Mushroom enthusiasts, nature lovers, students and the simply curious will gather in Rome this fall for the eighth annual Georgia Mushroom Festival, a two-day celebration of fungi, foraging, cultivation, science, music and community.
The festival will take place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2–3, 2026, at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome. Organizers describe the event as an immersive experience designed to connect people with the “mega science of mycology” through hands-on learning, expert presentations, guided mushroom forays, live music and other activities.
The festival’s educational program will feature a full slate of speakers covering topics ranging from wild mushroom foraging and medicinal mushrooms to cultivation, mycoremediation and mushroom breeding.
Among the scheduled presentations are Kevin Krzyzaniak, presenting “The Art of Foraging”; Brandon Owen and Sam Blackstone on medicinal mushrooms; Rut and Daniel Smith leading a hands-on mushroom-growing session; and Julian Mattucci discussing Psilocybe mushroom breeding.
The afternoon program continues with Scott Ostuni, who will discuss Psilocybe mushrooms of the Southeast; Jeff Watts on cultivation; and Christopher James Estrada on mycoremediation. Michael Drew Johnson, also known as Brother Nature, is scheduled to close out the day’s speaker,
Live blue grass music will begin Fridy at 4pm and continue until 10 pm. On Saturday, music will begin at noon and continue until 10 pm,
