March 28, 2024

Fifth annual Morel Festival draws biggest crowd yet

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Neither wind nor rain, lightning or thunder could dampen the spirits at the Morel Festival in Mingo. Large crowds gathered to taste the local delicacy of morel mushrooms at Greencastle Tavern for the fifth annual Morel Festival throughout the day Saturday.

“It really went well, we started early so we got quite a few, probably three-fourths of them already fed and out and away from the rain,” Greencastle Tavern owner Theresa Maher said. “We had our first set of music that got to play outside and for the rest of the night, they will go inside.”

With more than 150 tickets sold for the event, it has grown each year as word spread of the unique festival. Along with the featured entrée, “big” smoked pork chops, cheesy potatoes and a roll was on the menu for everyone’s enjoyment.

Mike Maher of Honey Hole Mushrooms supplied more than 30 pounds of mushrooms for the day. By around 6 p.m., about 96 people had been served and a holler was given: “If you have not eaten, get out there and get your food because it isn’t going to stop raining.”

“(The past few years mushrooms have been) very hard to come by,” Maher said.

Among those who turned out to get their share of the sweet and salty treat were Tonia Tinius and Amber Langmaid. Tinius said this is her third or fourth time coming to the Greencastle Tavern for the festival and each year it doesn’t disappoint.

“When they came out and said they were having a feast that very first time, it was kind of like ‘Surprise!’ and I was interested in them getting all of the morels. When we go out and hunt them and we don’t find very many,” Tinius said.

She said the atmosphere is always fun, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate, and the food is great.

“They are always very tasty,” Langmaid agreed.

Greencastle Tavern is continuing the party with steak night every other Friday where patrons can grill their own steak on the patio with live music as entertainment. Maher said there will also be live music every Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and additional events on Saturdays throughout the summer. All events will be posted on the businesses Facebook Page.

As for the Morel Festival, another year is in the books and everyone is already looking forward to when the event comes around again next year.

“It’s a great time,” Maher said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com