Mushroom pickers descend on Sicamous for Fungi Festival

Wild mushroom fans are gathering in Sicamous, B.C., this weekend for the annual Fungi Festival.

"We have some of the foremost mushroom experts coming to town for this event," festival organizer Deb Heap said to Daybreak South host Chris Walker.

"You can do anything from just stopping by the red barn and looking at some of the specimens and getting the experts to answer some of your questions, to going on a long trip into the back woods to scout for mushrooms."

Heap said the festival is popular with expert mushroom pickers who come together to compare notes.

But it's also a good place for beginners to learn about identifying mushroom and distinguishing between those that are tasty treats and those that are poison.

"I wouldn't recommend that any beginner tries to figure things out on their own," she said.

"Certainly you want to be really careful, and that's honestly why it's great to come down to the Fungi Fest and talk to the guys who really know they're stuff. You don't want to be figuring it out on your own."

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While mushroom pickers can be notoriously secretive when it comes to their favourite picking spots, the festival has a resident guide who will take visitors out for a tour.

"I can't tell you if he's going to show people his prime location, but he's certainly going to take people to some really good locations," Heap said.

The festival's biggest day is Saturday, which features a market, beer garden and chefs whipping up their favourite mushroom delicacies. There are also a number of walking tours every day.

The festival runs through to Sunday.

With files from CBC Radio's Daybreak South