Boundary Mushroom Festival

A Grassroots Celebration of Fungi, Forests & Community Connection

October 18th - 19th

Inviting mushroom enthusiasts, foragers, artists, and environmental advocates to explore the powerful role of fungi in ecosystems, culture, health, and local food systems.

This volunteer-led, community-rooted event takes place in the stunning Boundary region and Christina Lake, and positions the area as a growing hub for eco, agro, and cultural tourism. The weekend will offer a dynamic mix of education, art, food, and forest experiencesdesigned to inspire curiosity, stewardship, and connection.

Festival Program

Saturday, October 18th

Christina Lake Community Hall

8:30 AM – Registration & Opening, free coffee + mushroom supplements, Les Bazar Food Truck open to public
9:00 AM – Keynote: "Into the Woods: a beginner's guide to foraging for fungi”with Robin Mercy
10:30 AM – Foraging Field Tour with Robin Mercy (sold separately)
11:00 AM – Talk: "Mushrooms for Vitality: Unlocking Nature’s Healing Powers”with Patrick Kooyman
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM – Market, art show + Mushroom displays + demos - Free!

Christina Lake Welcome Centre Nature Park

3:00–5:00 PM Art Workshops with Leta Bak and Carol Mitchell - $5 for all
4:00–6:00 PM – Art Walk with Live Music, Mushroom-Inspired Art Installations, Craft Tables, Geocaching Games and lanterns - Free!

Boundary Geocache is a group of local geocaching enthusiasts who are passionate about sharing the wonder of this global treasure hunt with the Boundary and beyond. Geocaching is a fun way to combine technology with outdoor adventure, guiding people to discover hidden containers in both familiar and unexpected places.Our aim is to bring together hikers, foragers, and outdoor enthusiasts who share a love for exploration, curiosity, and the natural world. At this year’s Mushroom Festival, we will have hidden a series of small geocaches throughout the grounds. Visitors are invited to search for them, enjoy the excitement of discovery, and return to our booth to claim small prizes for their finds.

Sunday, October 19th

Christina Lake Community Hall

9:00 AM–1:00 PM – Market and demos continued. Free Demo: Dying with mushrooms with Candice Cullum, art show, books + mushrooms tables Les Bazar Food Truck (open to public)
2:00 PM – Talk: How Mushrooms Can Save Our World and water with Erik Hrabovsky
3:00 PM – Community conversation on Forests, water and Fungi! Citizens contribution to science and stewardship.
4:00 PM – Closing

Christina Lake Welcome Centre Nature Park - Free!

10 am: A family-friendly fun foraging walk with Erik Hrabovsky, learning how mushrooms grow, communicate, and their magic. Bring a stool if needed. This is a mobility friendly event. Suitable for adults and children.

Satellite Events

Rock Creek

October 2025 - Mushroom-Inspired Art Exhibition at the Riverside Centre

Grand Forks

October 11–24, 2025 - Mushroom Art Exhibition at Coyote Books

A Festival for All

Whether you're a seasoned mycophile or just mushroom-curious, this festival offers something for everyone. From science and storytelling to art and nourishment, every element is crafted to foster wellness, learning, community, and connection to the land.

To learn more, participate, or volunteer, please contact boundarymushroomfestival@gmail.com

Tickets available for purchase now through Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/boundary-mushroom-festival-oct-18th-19th-tickets-1681393997709

Featured Keynote Speakers and presenters

Based in Kaslo, BC, Robin is an expert cultivator, forager, and educator specializing in organic mushroom spawn and growing supplies. A founding board member of the Kootenay Mushroom Festival, Robin also teaches cultivation and wild foraging through Selkirk College and beyond. His talks explore the practical and spiritual intersections of mushrooms, food, and ecology.

Erik is a passionate innovator in mycoremediation—the use of mushrooms to clean up contaminated water and soil. Through his talk, “How Mushrooms Can Save Our Worlds,” Erik will showcase the powerful potential of fungi in healing damaged ecosystems, accompanied by a live demonstration using native species.

In her compelling talk, “Mushrooms in My Pockets: Foraging in a Modern World,” Heather examines the evolving practice of foraging amidst the challenges of modern resource extraction. A purveyor of foraged foods and a passionate advocate for forest health, she brings a critical lens to sustainability and ecology education.

Patrick brings decades of experience in plant and fungal medicine. His session will empower audiences with practical knowledge on creating powerful remedies from mushrooms and other botanicals, blending science with deep traditional wisdom.

Artists

Milena Vasquez is a Calgary-based artist working with photography and mixed media. Rooted in nature, her practice draws inspiration from outdoor adventures, forest bathing, and her connection to the land. Through botanical and landscape-based works, she explores memory, identity, and belonging, often infusing her Bolivian heritage. Themes of melancholy and adaptation emerge as she continues to uncover her true spirit.

Maya Corona’s work follows the creative journey: playful, intuitive and constantly evolving. She embraces experimentation, using bold colour and lively compositions to create moments of wonder and energy. Her pieces celebrate confidence, resilience, and connection through strong women, joyful animals and grounding scenes from nature.

Musicians

Jacob MacMillan is a singer-songwriter who lives in Grand Forks in the summer and Hall Siding in the winter. He writes and plays original alternative folk rock and performs on acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, bass, keys and drums. His songs tell stories of seasons, nature, love and growing up in the beautiful Canadian landscape.

Diego Golding is a talented 9-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, with roots that span both Canada and Puerto Rico, giving him a rich cultural background that deeply influences his music. Diego discovered his passion for music at just three years old. Over the years, his love for singing has grown, and he has developed a style that blends elements of pop and soul. As a bilingual performer, Diego treasures his Puerto Rican heritage, often singing beloved Spanish classics. These songs connect him to his roots and showcase the depth of his artistry at such a young age.