Join Us for the 28th Annual Fungus Foray and Wild Mushroom Exposition, Dec. 12–13

The Yuba Watershed Institute's 28th Annual Fungus Foray and Wild Mushroom Exposition returns to the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center on Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, 2026. Join us for either day, or both.

See the full schedule and get tickets →

Our community mushroom-hunting and identification workshop has helped put the Yuba watershed on the map, contributing to newly described species and to the only long-term database of fall fruiting patterns for Sierra fungi. Our science advisor is Brian Perry, Ph.D., of CSU East Bay.

Saturday, December 12: forays and talks

9 am to 4:30 pm. Doors open at 8:30, and all foray participants should arrive by 9:00.

Saturday begins with our traditional wild mushroom hunt. Participants head out to five sites in the local forest: three in the USFS Bullards Bar recreation area and two in the BLM's ‘Inimim Forest, with guides Seth Rosmerin, Guy Prudhomme, Damon Tighe, Sam Longmire, and Daniel Nicholson. Back at the schoolhouse, the afternoon is for identifying what we found and for two talks:

• Dr. Brian Perry, "Documenting Fungal Diversity within the FUNDIS Project"
• Damon Tighe, citizen scientist and photographer, "Fungi of Australia"

Online pre-registration is required for Saturday.

Be ready to walk in the damp woods and off trail for the best mushroom hunting. It's a rain or shine event. Useful things to bring: a collection basket, waxed paper bags, a knife, a camera, a notebook, a field identification guide, and a hand lens. We encourage carpooling to reduce our impact.

Sunday, December 13: Wild Mushroom Exposition

10 am to 4 pm.

On Sunday the schoolhouse fills with the week's collections of seasonal Sierra mushrooms, labeled and organized for you to explore. The day includes:

• A brunch-themed cooking demo with Chef Todd Spanier, owner of King of Mushrooms
• Talks on fungal pathogens in California forests (Christopher Hodge), newly described Cortinarius species in Nevada County (Dimitar Bojantchev), and DNA sequencing at community forays (Douglas Smith)
• "Table Talk: What Amazing Fungi Did We Find?" with Daniel Nicholson
• One family field trip, so children can join a foray. Pre-registration is required.

Sunday may sell out, so we recommend registering early.

Tickets

• Saturday: $50 general, $40 for YWI members. There is no children's discount, due to space limitations.
• Sunday: $25 general, $20 for YWI members. Children 12 and under are free.
• Family walk (Sunday): $30 per adult, which includes Sunday admission. Children 12 and under are free with an adult.

Register for the Foray →

Good to know

• Where: North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center, 17894 Tyler Foote Rd, Nevada City, CA.
• No dogs and no smoking at the venue.
• Please read our cancellation and weather policy before registering.
• Volunteer shifts are available. Contact Kim at events@yubawatershedinstitute.org to sign up.
• Questions? Email events@yubawatershedinstitute.org.

We would love to see you there.

YWI is a nonprofit based in Nevada City that has worked with the Bureau of Land Management and private landowners to care for the ‘Inimim Forest and other special places since 1990.