Have You Heard Of Michigan’s Humungous Fungus Festival?

There are many different festivals in Michigan to choose from but have you heard of the Humungous Fungus Festival?

What Started as a Reddit Thread About a U-Haul Truck With a Mushroom

I see pictures on the sides of U-Haul trucks but never pay any attention to them. I should take a closer look because I might learn something but I better make sure I'm looking at them while parked, I have to keep my eyes on the road.

What I see in the picture above is a 110-ton fungus that is growing in Crystal Falls, Michigan, that covers 37 acres. That is impressive. Others on the Reddit thread had some fun with this.

NunyaJim mentioned in the thread about visiting the Humongous Fungus Fest and since I have been to Crystal Falls several times and knew nothing about it, I thought I would do a little digging.

Read More: Helpful Tips on Finding Tasty Michigan Morel Mushrooms 

Michigan's Humongous Fungus Fest

The Humongous Fungus Fest is on August 23 and 24 this year. This all started when a 37-acre fungus was discovered in 1988 called Armillaria gallica. At that time, this was the largest living organism known on the planet. The Upper Peninsula town of Crystal Falls has celebrated the fungus with a festival for over 30 years.

According to Atlas Obscura, the Humongous Fungus is 1,500 years old. To celebrate these massive fungi the people of Crystal Falls celebrate with a pancake breakfast, volleyball and golf tournament, horseshoe tournament, softball games, and a tube float down the river. There is also the Fungus Fest Parade, fireworks displays, and even a pie-eating contest.

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The festival sounds like a great time for families but if you plan on visiting the actual Humongous fungi, it may be a bit of a disappointment. There is not a giant, lone mushroom that is standing tall on 37 acres, it is a series of small mushrooms that are connected underground. They are called buttons that grow from the Humongous Fungus that mainly lives underground so you won't need your camera for a selfie with a big mushroom.