Parade to Kick Off 40th Annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square

Downtown Kennett Square will celebrate the joys of mushrooms in a parade that will kick off the 40th annual Mushroom Festival on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m.

Organized by Kennett Collaborative and funded by the Mushroom Festival, the parade will proceed down South Broad Street and turn west onto State Street. Those interested in participating in the parade, such as with a float, musical group, dance ensemble, or a mushroom-themed creation, can complete a short application by Friday, Aug. 22, on the parade's website.

Gina Puoci, president of the Mushroom Festival's Board of Directors, said the parade seemed like the ideal way to honor the festival's milestone anniversary. “We knew we wanted to do something special to start our 40th anniversary celebration — and we thought, who better to bring that energy than Kennett Collaborative? They already organize the Memorial Day and Holiday Light Parades, so we were thrilled when they said yes to taking this on,” Puoci explained in a statement shared with The Times of Chester County.

“The Mushroom Festival is one of the most important events for Kennett Square's economy, but it's so much more than a weekend celebration,” said Daniel Embree, executive director of Kennett Collaborative. “Year after year, the festival supports local nonprofits with generous grants that strengthen our entire community year round — including Kennett Collaborative, Kennett Area Community Services, Family Promise of Southern Chester County, local fire companies, and so many others.”

According to festival organizers, the Mushroom Festival has awarded more than $1.1 million to local nonprofits and has supported research on the health benefits of mushrooms.

The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, with its theme "Harvesting 40 Years Together," will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7. Dozens of craft vendors, Kennett Square boutiques, and plenty of mushroom-themed foods will be available for purchase during the two-day event. Thousands of people are expected to visit Chester County and Kennett Square to take part in the event. More information about the event is available on the festival's website.