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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!
Wednesday August 12, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Prefest workshops are an extra paid ticket purchased - not for general admission passes!

Buy Tickets 

Truffle Dog Foray w/ Heather Dawson and her truffle hunting dogs 

Wednesday, August 12th 9am-1pm

*NO DOGS allowed, however, all humans are welcome!*

What kind of fungal treasures lie hidden underground in the Rocky Mountain soils? We're going to find out! Truffle dogs Rye and Pyro dig up everything from delightfully fruity-scented truffles to more eye-watering pungent varieties that provide a unique journey into the world of truffle aromas, both good and bad. While gourmet truffles aren't known to grow in Colorado, underground fruiting fungi represent a significant portion of fungal biodiversity yet often go undetected. In this special event, Heather Dawson will give a demonstration on the process of training a dog to find truffles, which will be followed by a foray into the woods with her golden retriever truffle dogs to find diverse wild truffles.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 8:45AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.


Be Prepared

Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:
  • Good footwear
  • Water and snacks
  • Layers or rain gear
  • A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms
All foray groups will have a First Aid–certified volunteer present.


Speakers
avatar for Heather Dawson

Heather Dawson

Foray Leader
Heather Dawson is a PhD student at the University of Oregon studying truffle biodiversity with a focus on truffles in oak savanna. She has spent the last 5 years following her truffle dogs around the woods learning first-hand about the vast number of truffle species that are easily... Read More →

Wednesday August 12, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

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