Q. How can I find out the date of this year's festival? October 3, 2009
A. Each year the festival committee comes together in the spring to determine the date and begin planning. This year's day will be posted on the website http://www.mushroomfestival.ca by mid-May.
Or you can click on the following link to receive an update http://www.mushroomfestival.ca/RSS/mushroom_festival.xml.

Q. What exactly is the festival about? What actually happens there?
A. The Bamfield Mushroom Festival is about promoting awareness of the natural world around us. It's a fun, all-day, all-ages celebration, which focuses on learning about the fascinating and diverse kingdom of mushrooms and fungi. There's a scrumptious pancake breakfast in the morning, a guided mushroom walk, with 'Mushroom Jim' around mid-morning and another about mid-day , followed by a slide show, a delectable forest feast dinner, and the 'Mushroom Stomp' (dance) with a live band (restricted to ages 19 & over). During the day there are identification tables displaying an assortment of local mushrooms. In short, it's a day of education, celebration, connection and community.

Q. I don't really know anything about wild mushrooms, but they look so interesting that I'm kind of curious about them. I know some of them are poisonous, but I don't know which ones. What can you tell me about your workshops? Does one need a basic knowledge of wild mushrooms to attend?
A. No experience is necessary. Wild mushroom aficionados and mushroom novices alike can benefit from an afternoon of learning to differentiate and identify wild mushrooms at our display tables and in their natural habitat. You'll be shown which ones are edible, which ones are poisonous, and even some that are medicinal. The workshop, which we refer to as a walk, is led by "Mushroom Jim Jones" (our mushroom guru), who takes groups out into the nearby forests around Bamfield, which are a mushroom lovers paradise. One participant, celebrating his 4th consecutive Mushroom Festival put it this way, "For me, the mushroom walk is the main event — it's what the festival is all about. I love the fact that I get to go out into the forest with someone who really knows his stuff. Every year, I learn something new."

Q. How do I register for the Mushroom Derby?
A. There is no advance registration. Registration for the Mushroom forest walk automatically enters you in the mushroom derby. It takes place on the day of the festival at the Bamfield Community School. This is also where the mushroom identification displays and sales/arts tables will be set up.

Q. My husband and I want to attend the festival, but we have two children ages 6 and 10; would it be appropriate to bring them along?
A. By all means, this is an all ages event and more than once, we've been shown that children are often the best at finding mushrooms. (Maybe it's because they're closer to the ground).

Q. Do we need any specialized clothing to go mushroom hunting?
A. No, however, although we have had warm sunny afternoons for the festival, six straight years in row, it's always a good idea to come prepared for inclement weather. We suggest you bring along a raincoat, just in case and sensible footwear (such as hiking boots, gumboots or runners) that will allow you to walk comfortably & sure-footedly in the forest. Bring along any combination of handled baskets, cloth &/or paper bags, to collect some mushrooms in. Whistles or walkie-talkies to keep in touch with the members of your group, as well as a compass or GPS are also helpful in keeping folks safe and found.

Q. What exactly is the derby and how do people win prizes?
A. We call it the MONSTER MUSHROOM derby. The derby is a contest where those participating search the countryside (including, but not exclusive to the forest walk) for several mushroom species and enter some of the mushrooms they've found for a chance to win a prize. This enhances the education component of the festival, and gives people more incentive to learn what a Chanterelle (or whatever species) looks like, and to go out and look for one. The Festival will be encouraging participants to walk lightly in the forest and limit the number of specimens taken. Derby rules will be posted on the day of the Festival.

Q.How do we get tickets for the breakfast?
A. There are no advance ticket sales. Tickets will be available at the door, at the Bamfield Community Hall. Breakfast $10 (without bacon)/$12 (with bacon). Children under 12: half-portion breakfast $6(without bacon)/$8 (with bacon).

Q. How do we get tickets for the dinner?
A. There are no advance ticket sales. Tickets will be available on the day of the event at the door, at the Bamfield Community Hall, in the morning during the breakfast, in the afternoon at the Bamfield Community School where the mid-day activities will be taking place, and then again at the Community Hall assuming seats are still available, just before dinner. Dinner $25.

Q. How do we get tickets for the dance?
A. There are no advance ticket sales. Tickets will be available at the door of the dance at the East Bamfield Fire Hall. Adults only.

Q. My family and I plan to attend the whole festival. Will we have to drive a long way from one venue to the other and what about parking fees in each place?
A. Bamfield, where the festival is held each year, is a small coastal village. When you first arrive in town you will see signs directing you to the various festival venues, all on the east side of the Bamfield Inlet. Good news, each venue is no more than a 5-7 minutes walk from the other and parking is free. Please be courteous and respect the reserved parking areas.

Q. Bamfield is a long way from where I live; do you have any suggestions for places to stay?
A. Bamfield's been described as "the most beautiful jewel on the coast of BC". It is a quaint seaside village surrounded by forest & ocean, with a mountain backdrop, AND many places to stay ranging from B&B's to Cottages to Lodges, Campgrounds, a Hotel and everything in between. Check out the Bamfield Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.bamfieldchamber.com. Be aware that not all accommodations are listed, so be sure to do a search of your own, to find the perfect place to stay while enjoying the festival.