We’ve been waiting for-ages
But the Yachats Mushroom Festival is finally here
Jon Sommer is among the festival’s many presenters
Mushroom lovers, foragers, families and fungi enthusiasts are invited to Yachats for one of the community’s most anticipated weekends of the year. The 2026 Yachats Mushroom Festival returns this weekend for three days of mushroom walks, talks, hands-on workshops, identification, art, food, vendors and plenty of fungi-filled fun.
This year’s festival theme is Truffles, with special programming exploring these fascinating underground fungi and the dogs who help find them.
The weekend kicks off this Friday, Oct. 16, with the festival’s Keynote Dinner. This year’s keynote speaker, Heather Dawson, will present “Seeking Buried Fungal Treasure: Truffles and the Dogs Who Find Them.” Taking guests into the hidden world of truffles and how trained dogs are used to locate these underground treasures.
For the keynote dinner, Dante’s il Forno Pizza and Caravan Farm & Kitchen will put a local, fresh spin on a delicious festival meal, featuring homemade pizza with local mushrooms and fresh seasonal sides sourced from local farms. It’s going to be a spectacular way to kick off the weekend.
Dinner and keynote tickets are $45 per person, or guests can attend the keynote presentation only for $15. The Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce will also host a bar featuring Pelican Brewing beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.
A weekend full of fungi
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, will be packed with activities throughout Yachats, including guided mushroom walks, educational talks, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, children’s activities and opportunities to learn from experienced mycologists and mushroom enthusiasts.
The popular Vendor Faire returns to the Yachats Commons from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday, featuring mushroom-inspired art, handmade goods, specialty products and more.
Behind the Yachats Commons, visitors will find the festival’s Mushroom Identification Hall inside the large white tent. Bring your mushroom discoveries to the ID Hall, where members of the Lincoln County Mycological Society can help you identify what you’ve found and learn more about the incredible fungi growing throughout the Oregon Coast and surrounding forests.
Festival tickets for walks, workshops and other paid activities are now on sale. For tickets, downloadable festival PDFs, schedules and additional festival information, go to yachatsmushroomfestival.org or visityachats.org.
During festival weekend, visit the Information Tent behind the Yachats Commons for ticket availability, schedules, directions and general festival information.
Sunday Mushroom Brunch at Heceta Head
Make Sunday extra special with a mushroom-themed brunch at the Heceta Head Lighthouse B&B on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11:45 am. The menu will feature mushrooms incorporated throughout the meal alongside fresh, local ingredients, all enjoyed from the historic Keeper’s Home overlooking the Oregon Coast.
Brunch is $80 per person, including gratuity. Reservations are required. To RSVP, call 541-547-3696.
The Mushroom Treasure Hunt returns
The beloved Mushroom Treasure Hunt is back for another year.
Beginning during Mushroom Festival weekend, volunteers will hide handcrafted mushrooms for lucky treasure hunters to discover. This year’s treasures include the return of beautiful handblown glass mushrooms from Holmes & Birdwell Glass, along with a brand-new addition: handmade clay mushrooms from Holden Art Studio.
Keep your eyes open — the hunt begins during festival weekend.
Ride the trolley
The Yachats Trolley will be running a special Mushroom Festival event schedule on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, making it easier for visitors to travel between festival activities and explore Yachats. Watch for the special festival trolley schedule as the event gets closer.
A festival built by volunteers
The Yachats Mushroom Festival is produced and presented by the Lincoln County Mycological Society in partnership with the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce.
This incredible community event is made possible largely through the dedication of volunteers. The mycological society works throughout the year to bring together knowledgeable presenters, guides, educators and mushroom enthusiasts who make the festival possible. The festival also receives support from the North American Truffling Society and Cascade Mycological Society, whose members help provide talks, guided walks, workshops, identification expertise and educational programming throughout the weekend.
Whether you’re an experienced mushroom hunter, curious about the fungi growing in our coastal forests, searching for a hidden glass mushroom, or simply looking for a fun fall weekend in Yachats, there’s something waiting for you at the 2026 Yachats Mushroom Festival.
Come for the mushrooms. Stay for the discoveries. And don’t forget to look for truffles!
Tickets, schedules, downloadable PDFs and festival information available at yachatsmushroomfestival.org and visityachats.org.