Yachats Mushroom Festival Returns in October with Three Days of Oregon Coast Forest Morsels

Published 09/30/25 at 6:25 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon – One of the more celebrated aspects of Oregon is how each autumn brings a special culinary activity. The wonders of intricate mycelium networks beneath us come alive. It soon becomes a hike with a delicious reward.

So it goes with forest floor each fall on the central Oregon coast as well, and from October 17 to 19 the town of Yachats will celebrate just that. The yummy, hidden world of fungi erupts with its annual Mushroom Festival. The event invites the public to explore the science, flavor, and ecological importance of mushrooms through a weekend of guided walks, expert talks, hands-on workshops, and a vibrant vendor fair.

This year’s theme, “The World of Mushrooms,” highlights the vast and fascinating role fungi play in ecosystems, medicine, and culinary traditions. Nichole Lippincott, executive director of the Yachats Chamber of Commerce, says the festival is a chance to appreciate mushrooms not just as food, but as vital contributors to forest health and environmental restoration.

It's an earthy mix of guided walks, engaging talks, hands-on workshops, and a bustling vendor fair filled with fungi-inspired delights. This annual Yachats tradition is for both the seasoned forager or just curious – and it’s the perfect time to discover the wonder, science, and magic of mushrooms (but not “magic mushrooms”).

Plus, you can get t help identifying your mycological finds.

The festival begins Friday evening with a mushroom-themed dinner by Big Dog BBQ at the Yachats Commons from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a keynote presentation at 7:00 p.m. by mycologist Daniel Winkler titled “Fruits of the Forest.” Tickets are $40 for dinner and keynote or $10 for the keynote alone. Advance purchase is recommended, with limited same-day tickets available.

Festival Highlights

Friday, October 17

The event opens with a mushroom-themed dinner by local food truck Big Dog BBQ at the Yachats Commons from 5:00–6:30 p.m., followed by a keynote presentation at 7:00 p.m. by mycologist Daniel Winkler titled “Fruits of the Forest.”
Dinner + Keynote: $40
Keynote Only: $10
Tickets are available now, with limited same-day availability.

Saturday & Sunday, October 18–19

Vendor Fair: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Yachats Commons, featuring mushroom-themed food, crafts, and artisan goods.

Mushroom ID Hall: Under the big top on the Commons lawn, experts from the Lincoln County Mycological Society, Cascade Mycological Society, and North American Truffling Society will help identify foraged specimens.

Talks & Workshops: Free talks by regional experts; workshops require tickets, available in late September.

See Yachats Weather

Guided Walks: Held at Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and Cummins Creek Wilderness Area. Registration is $10 per walk; carpooling is encouraged as no shuttle service will be provided.

The mushroom treasure hunt on Saturday morning takes place on various central Oregon coast trails, offering new surprises among the hidden fungi. Local restaurants will also feature mushroom-inspired dishes throughout the weekend, turning the entire town into a celebration of fungi.

Cape Perpetua forest at night - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“Mushrooms are far more than something we sauté in a pan - though they certainly shine in the culinary world,” said Lippincott. “They have long been valued for their medicinal properties and are now at the forefront of exciting research in health and wellness. Beyond that, fungi play a powerful role in environmental remediation, helping to break down toxins and restore balance to damaged ecosystems. And perhaps most importantly, they are critical partners in the health of our forests, quietly sustaining life through intricate mycelial networks beneath our feet.”

The Yachats Mushroom Festival is sponsored by the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Lincoln County Mycological Society, with support from the Cascade Mycological Society and the North American Truffling Society.

For full schedules, ticket information, and updates, visit YachatsMushroomFestival.org.

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