Information Booth
GeneralQuestions? Visit the Festival Information Booth for Festival-day info!
Jack Marshall
MusicLocal artist, musician, and legend Jack Marshall plays all manner of classic and contemporary rock. If you know how to play an instrument there is a good chance that you learned from Jack. They say those who can't, teach, but in Jack's case he can and he still does!
Kids Events
KidsBounces, Bungees & Balloons
Make sure to stop by the Kids Area where the little ones can ditch the shoes and jump all the wiggles out in inflatable bounce houses, or try and jump to the moon on a bungee jump.
Don't want to jump? No worries! The famous Balloon Lady will be there with plenty of balloon friends!
Mushroom Growers Tent
GeneralDid you know mushrooms double in size every 24 hours? That they don’t need sunlight to grow? And a handful of mushrooms have more Potassium than one banana?
Learn about how mushrooms grow—from tiny spores to the yummy mushrooms that end up in your dishes. Hear from Kennett Square mushroom growers about the intricacies of mushroom harvesting, the many sustainable properties of mushroom production (there are a lot!), the nutritional value, and much more!
Leslie Bonci Food Demo
Free ShowsCooking with Mushrooms: Bring Nutrish & Delish to Every Dish!
Mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals and Leslie Bonci gives tons of recipe 'inspo' as she demos a variety of mushroom dishes and talks about all the healthy benefits of mushrooms.
Leslie J. Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN, FAND is a registered dietitian, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and is the owner of Active Eating Advice- be fit, fed, fearless-a nutrition consulting company and co-founder of Performance365-a sports nutrition consulting company. She is the sports nutrition consultant for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Part of The Mushroom Festival Healthy Eating Series
Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross
Mushroom 'Chopped' Contest
Free ShowsNEW!! This Year!
Do you like mystery? Excitement? Anticipation?
Four contestants will square off in front of a LIVE audience to compete in the popular Food Network-themed 'Chopped' competition where each contestant will have 30 minutes to create a delicious mushroom-centric dish for four judges, to be judged on taste, presentation, creativity, and use of mushrooms.
Contestants will have a shared pantry of ingredients like salt, pepper, oils, etc., as well as a few standard ingredients at the contestant’s workstation. And of course, a Mystery Bag of ingredients that MUST BE USED!
Come watch as these contestants create creative, unique, and delicious mushroom-themed dishes--'Chopped'-style!
Part of The Mushroom Festival Healthy Eating Series
Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross
Mushroom Eating Contest
Free ShowsThis event puts the FUN in FUNGI when a group of brave contestants sees how many fried mushrooms they can eat in eight minutes!
Buona Food’s The Original Breaded Fried Mushrooms are a Festival favorite every year! But only a few have the opportunity to eat copious amounts of the crunchy, mouth-watering snacks during the National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship. The local amateur record was set last year at 4 pounds. The professional record currently stands at a whopping 11 pounds!
Join us to watch the spectacle and cheer on the contestants as they challenge these records!
Eating Contest Prizes:
Professional Eaters
1st: $1,000
2nd: $750
3rd: $500
Amateur Eaters
1st: $500
2nd: $300
3rd: $100
Hosted by WXTU's Jeff Kurkjian.
Miss Maggie Sings
KidsPeggy Gernerd is MISS MAGGIE SINGS!, a children’s performer who combines singing,
guitar, ukulele, one-of-a-kind puppets, movement, and audience participation to “educate and entertain” children of all ages (adults, too!).
A Kutztown University graduate, Peggy holds a B.F.A. in Related Arts (theater, music,
movement, and literature). She studied children’s theater and street theater with Bill
George of Touchstone (formerly People’s Theater Co.), in Bethlehem. Peggy also studied the Meisner Acting Technique at Gately Poole, movement with The Actor’s Movement Studio and musical theater/cabaret at HB Studios, all in NYC.
Maggie Spike
MusicMaggie Spike is Maggie and Eric Gernerd, an acoustic based singer-songwriter duo from rural eastern PA. As an independent alternative folk band, the two enjoy writing, producing, and performing several different styles of music that include: folk, rock, acoustic pop, traditional British Isles/Celtic, jazz, and world rhythms. In live performance, Maggie Spike brings to the stage a variety of instruments – acoustic guitars, ukulele, Irish bouzouki, banjo, frame drums, and of course, vocal harmonies.
Maggie and Eric have produced three Maggie Spike albums – Dark Harbour (2019); Sol Paradise (2009); Passenger Station (2005.) T
The Dan and Dan Band
MusicDrawing from their days as back-liners in the jazz roots rock group Marlon Spike, Dan Lyons and Dan Sarkission come together to create a unique spin on some popular hits. If you like DMB, Mayer, Coldplay, Outkast (yeah, we said Outkast) then you'll dig Dan and Dan! Combining Acoustic guitar, vocals, and upright bass, Dan and Dan are gaining momentum as a crowd favorite with the Trolley Square, Newark, and Chesapeake City areas.
Information Booth
GeneralQuestions? Visit the Festival Information Booth for Festival-day info!
Just a Bit Outside
MusicJust a Bit Outside are an alternative rock trio that plays timeless tunes for everybody, and also mix in an original tune here and there. The trio features veteran frontman Sean McGraw, a long-time resident of Kennett Square, along with vocal harmonies from long-time guitarist Tim Brennan and the unique sounds of the electric ukulele from Tony Ukes! Formed in 2017, Just a Bit Outside has performed all over the Brandywine Valley and the neighboring states of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Kids Events
KidsBounces, Bungees & Balloons
Make sure to stop by the Kids Area where the little ones can ditch the shoes and jump all the wiggles out in inflatable bounce houses, or try and jump to the moon on a bungee jump.
Don't want to jump? No worries! The famous Balloon Lady will be there with plenty of balloon friends!
Mushroom Growers Tent
GeneralDid you know mushrooms double in size every 24 hours? That they don’t need sunlight to grow? And a handful of mushrooms have more Potassium than one banana?
Learn about how mushrooms grow—from tiny spores to the yummy mushrooms that end up in your dishes. Hear from Kennett Square mushroom growers about the intricacies of mushroom harvesting, the many sustainable properties of mushroom production (there are a lot!), the nutritional value, and much more!
Mushroom Soup
GeneralMushroom Soup: A Classic!
Locally made savory, rich and creamy mushroom soup. Loaded with fresh hearty local portabella and white mushrooms. This soup offers earthy flavors enhanced by onions, carrots, herbs and black pepper. This local favorite is made with fresh locally grown mushrooms and milk from our local dairy farms.
Made by Sunny Dell Foods, collaborating with the Mason Lodge in Kennett Square.
The soup will be sold in 2 sizes, 8 oz and 16 oz containers for eating at the Festival or taking home!
Leslie Bonci Food Demo
Free ShowsMushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals and Leslie Bonci gives tons of recipe 'inspo' as she demos a variety of mushroom dishes and talks about all the healthy benefits of mushrooms.
Leslie J. Bonci , MPH,RD,CSSD, LDN, FAND is a registered dietitian, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and is the owner of Active Eating Advice- be fit, fed, fearless-a nutrition consulting company and co-founder of Performance365-a sports nutrition consulting company. She is the sports nutrition consultant for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Part of The Mushroom Festival Healthy Eating Series
Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross
Mushroom 'Chopped' Contest: Juniors Edition
Free ShowsNEW!! This Year!
Just like the our Mushroom 'Chopped' Contest for adults on Saturday, September 10, this contest is for the kids!
Four contestants (ages 13-17) will square off in front of a LIVE audience to compete in the popular Food Network-themed 'Chopped' competition where each contestant will have 30 minutes to create a delicious mushroom-centric dish for four judges, to be judged on taste, presentation, creativity, and use of mushrooms.
Contestants will have a shared pantry of ingredients like salt, pepper, oils, etc., as well as a few standard ingredients at the contestant’s workstation. And of course, a Mystery Bag of ingredients that MUST BE USED!
Come watch as these contestants create creative, unique, and delicious mushroom-themed dishes--'Chopped'-style!
Part of The Mushroom Festival Healthy Eating Series
Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross
The Steve Liberace Trio
MusicSteve delivers contemporary and alternative rock. He is a classic and modern, rock guitarist and vocalist. Performing acoustic solo, duo, or with his four-piece band, he rocks public venues, private parties, and special events.
Some interesting career highlights for Steve include: WXPN 88.5 FM Philly Local Pick of the Day for his tune, "Pearl of a Girl", Winner of the Alka Seltzer jingle contest (Philadelphia, PA) judged by an All-Star Industry panel including Cyndi Lauper and the Steve Liberace Band was a Top 5 Finalist for Bon Jovi's "Have a Nice Gig" competition.
Steve has performed all across the U.S. as well as tours in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 2nd stage before Weezer, Stone Temple Pilots, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, AC/DC, The Marshall Tucker Band, Bruce Springsteen, Creed, and Philadelphia sports teams (Flyers, 76ers, Phantoms, and Wings).
Steve’s latest albums, EPs, and singles are all available to download and stream on Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, and everywhere you find music.
Andrew Lipke & The Azrael String Quartet
MusicAndrew Lipke is a Philadelphia-based, South African-born composer, producer, arranger, conductor, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and educator active in many styles across multiple genres. Lipke has released seven self-produced albums of original music encompassing a wide variety of musical styles from early madrigal vocal music to aggressive hard rock. His music has been described as "Liberated pop - ambitious long-form songs with harmonic freedom and emotional range unstymied by strict radio formats"
Playing with Andrew are Jennifer Boorum and James Finegan. Jennifer is a Philadelphia-based musician who plays acoustic and electric viola, and ukulele, and sings lead vocals with ESQ, and has played in the string sections for artists such as Michael Bublè. James is a member of the Delaware and Allentown Symphonies and is an active freelance musician in the Philadelphia area, performing with the Philadelphia Ballet, the Philly Pops, Opera Philadelphia, and other area groups.