Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of mushroom fans dig into the fabulous world of fungi at the McCloud Mushroom, Music, and Wine Festival. The two-day celebration in McCloud —70 miles north of Redding—celebrates the bounty of morels, chanterelles, porcini, and other tasty mushrooms that grow wild in Siskiyou County’s forests.
Note: Many toxic mushrooms look similar to edible ones. Only eat wild mushrooms that have been positively identified by a qualified expert. Join official guided tours and never sample mushrooms on your own.
What to do at the McCloud Mushroom, Music, and Wine Festival
Join the 10,000-plus mushroom enthusiasts who show up to mingle with foragers, farmers, foodies, chefs, and artisans. Sample such fungi-enhanced bites asmac ‘n’ cheese, pasta, pizza, risotto, jerky, and even ice cream. Watch cooking demonstrations, taste curated wine-and-mushroom pairings, or join a guided foraging tour and search for edible mushrooms.
Browsers will find more than 100 stalls filled with mushroom pop-ups: Growers and foragers from across the West offer a huge selection of fresh and dried mushrooms. Artisans and craftspeople sell fungi-themed jewelry, t-shirts, hats, aprons, and kitchenware.
Where to stay for the McCloud Mushroom, Music, and Wine Festival
The festival takes place just a few steps away from two historic hotels in downtown McCloud. The 1916 McCloud Hotel offers a cozy lobby, gorgeous gardens, and 16 rooms and suites furnished in Arts and Crafts style. The 1897 McCloud Mercantile Hotel has 12 rooms and suites decked out in period decor ranging from the 1890s to the 1940s. Guests can browse the ground-floor shop’s old-timey candy, locally made jams and sauces, and vintage soaps.
On the edge of town, Shasta View Lodge has 12 modern cedar cabins with kitchenettes and outdoor patios, each boasting an outstanding view of towering Mt. Shasta. Only 12 miles away, Mount Shasta Resort rents 65 Craftsman-style chalets perched on the pine-rimmed shoreline of Lake Siskiyou. Guests can play a round of golf or indulge in a massage at the onsite spa.
What to do near the McCloud Mushroom, Music, and Wine Festival
Before or after the fungi fiesta, make time to discover McCloud’s amazing outdoor playground. Take a scenic drive up the southwest slope of Mt. Shasta, the 14,179-foot volcano that towers over McCloud. Everitt Memorial Highway leads uphill to Bunny Flat, where you can park your car and hike through alpine meadows and old-growth forest to the historic Shasta Alpine Hut. For more sightseeing, drive uphill to the road’s end at Old Ski Bowl for a breathtaking vista of the stark volcanic terrain above timberline.
Seven miles east of McCloud, an easy walking trail leads 1.9 miles upstream from Lower Falls Picnic Area to the McCloud River’s trio of waterfalls. Of the three graceful cataracts, Middle Falls steals the show with its 50-foot wall of water plunging over a basalt cliff. The others have their own charms: Upper McCloud Falls funnels into a narrow stream and plunges into a seafoam-green pool. Lower Falls has the easiest access for picnickers and swimmers.
Another great spot for a dip is Lake Siskiyou, a deep-blue gem fed by five mountain streams. Relax on the shoreline or rent a kayak, SUP, or fishing boat at the marina. For a higher-octane adventure, rent a mountain bike or sign up for a guided bike tour at Shasta Gravity Adventures in nearby Mt. Shasta City. Peak baggers can trek to the summit of Black Butte or Gray Butte, while fly fishers stalk trophy-sized trout at McCloud River Preserve.