Name: BIPOC Community Gathering: Opening Circle & Connection
Start: 2026-08-14T12:15:00-0600
End: 2026-08-14T13:15:00-0600

SCHEDULE LAUNCH IS JUNE 21st, 2026

Welcome to the largest wild mushroom happening in North America, the 46th Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival! This program of the Telluride Institute, a 501c3 non-profit, offers a plethora of events ranging from foray and mushroom ID sessions, to hands-on demonstrations and lectures—all led by regionally, nationally, and internationally-known experts, (and we cannot forget the wide variety of social and cultural events offered, along with the famous Mushroom Parade!) there is plenty for everyone, every day.

On this website, you can filter your search by events, venues, presenters, etc. Each year the Mushroom Festival features many wonderful presentations on “all things fungi.” Presentations on similar topics are grouped together at the same venue so that attendees interested will be able to spend more time learning and interacting, and less time walking between venues. See who else is interested in each event and interact with our extended Mushroom Family.

See you soon!

BIPOC Community Gathering: Opening Circle & Connection

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm MDT

Wilkinson Public Library- Program Room @ 100 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

The Telluride Mushroom Festival has long been a place where people gather to celebrate fungi, science, art, education, and community. This year, the festival is piloting a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Community Gathering Space to help foster connection, belonging, and long-term participation within the mycological community.
This gathering is a BIPOC affinity space created for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color attendees seeking connection, reflection, and community with others who share similar lived experiences. While many festival events are open to everyone, this space has been intentionally created to support BIPOC participants.
The purpose is to provide an opportunity for connection, conversation, and community among attendees who share experiences of navigating mycology, conservation, outdoor spaces, and environmental fields from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
We also warmly welcome BIPOC members of the Telluride community and surrounding region. Recognizing the many Indigenous, Latin American, and other cultural traditions that have shaped our relationship with fungi, we hope this gathering helps community members feel seen, welcomed, and connected throughout the festival.
The space will include an anonymous reflection box where participants may share thoughts, questions, stories, hopes, challenges, words of encouragement, or reflections from their festival experience.
Whether someone chooses to engage in conversation, seek community, share a story, contribute a reflection, or simply sit quietly with a cup of tea, they are welcome.

Speakers

Clarissa Arana

Foray Leader

Clarissa Arana is a Colorado-based mycologist, foray leader, and passionate citizen scientist with over a decade of experience in mushroom identification, ecology, and community education. She serves as the Founder and President of the Front Range Mycological Society (FRMS) and works... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm MDT
Wilkinson Public Library- Program Room

FREE - Open to public, General Mycology

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46th Telluride Mushroom Festival

Clarissa Arana

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46th Telluride Mushroom Festival

Clarissa Arana

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