Birmingham Fungi Festival

Join us to go mad for mushrooms and get fascinated by fungi at the second annual Birmingham Fungi Festival! Taking place from 12.00-16.00pm at Highbury Hall & Park, Birmingham, on Saturday 17th October, there will be much for everyone to enjoy throughout the afternoon!

As well as a series of ticket-only events including fungi forays, workshops and talks, here's what you can enjoy for free throughout the afternoon - perfect for all the family!

The Great Mushroom Treasure Hunt

Families will receive a Mushroom Hunter Passport and go out in search of six hidden fungi characters around Highbury Hall and Park. They will learn a fact, complete a tiny challenge and find one of six letters that will form a word. When they return and show their completed passport, they’ll become an official Fungi Explorer and receive a prize.

Inks and Spore Prints 

Experiment with mushroom-based ink and mark-making, discovering the colours, textures and marks that fungi can create, before making your own mushroom spore prints - beautiful botanical impressions that reveal the unique patterns hidden beneath each mushroom cap.

Storytelling

A mixture of child-friendly fungi walks and indoor storytelling sessions exploring the world of fungi for little ones, with interactive sessions exploring Highbury Park and getting up close with nature. Times will be advertised on the day.

Mushroom Murder Mystery - “A Murder Most Fungal”

Put your detective hat on and help solve the suspicious death of Professor Bob Lete at the annual Birmingham and Black Country Fungi Conference. You’ll receive an initial clue to begin your investigation, and will have to find more clues, examine the suspects and consider their potential motives. Are you ready to solve the mystery and identify the murderer? Suitable for older children and adults.

Textile Workshop

An engaging drop-in textile workshop suitable for children and adults, no prior artistic experience necessary! Experiment with different techniques to create a fungal flag - you can take yours home or contribute it to the collective bunting to be displayed at future Fungi Festivals.

Food

Mushroom-themed food provided by Change Kitchen CIC, an award-winning catering social enterprise making meaningful differences in communities through engaging with young people, creating work opportunities and supporting healthy eating. 

Mushroom Market

A selection of stalls packed with crafty nature-based creators including:

• Mystical Mycelium - One of one handmade resin-cast mushroom art using ethically and sustainably foraged real mushrooms and woodland finds.
• Crafty Robin - A mushroom-obsessed artist and printmaker, exploring mediums like screen printing and lino printing, and focusing on mushrooms you can find in the UK to encourage people to become more curious about their surroundings.
• Elle MacMillan - Multidisciplinary textiles artist & material researcher, creator of BIO-ZINES and bio yarns – seaweed-based yarn. 
• Exhale Nutrition - Hemp and functional mushroom products to support your wellness goals, including Roar, a Lion's Mane Alcohol-Free IPA!
• Natasha Stoianovska - Birmingham-based visual artist creating colourful and quirky home décor.
• Kura Ilera - Natural soaps made in small batches using soothing oils & butters, organically homegrown and sometimes foraged botanicals, scented with essential oils.
• ClayBabies - ClayBabies are small, hand-sculpted clay creations exploring vulnerability, emotion, and self-acceptance. Each piece is completely unique, with exaggerated sometimes ‘ugly’ features and expressive details that reflect the messy, imperfect parts of being human that we should learn to love and embrace. Love The Unlovable!!
• Selene by Sarina – Makes handmade crochet accessories with customisable designs.
• Jemima Graham - interdisciplinary artist exploring the interconnectedness of all livings beings. Jemima will be sharing new work, hand-carved mushrooms, art prints and nature-inspired gifts. 

• Inkcap Prints – Linocut prints inspired by nature, heritage and curious objects, all made and printed by hand in Birmingham.

  Plus a Birmingham Wildlife Trust merch stall, the Friends of Highbury Park and the Chamberlain Highbury Trust.