The Mushroom Capital Of The World Is Hiding In Small Town Pennsylvania And It's As Weirdly Wonderful As You'd Expect
By Beth Price-Williams|Published November 26, 2020
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Those of who us live in PA know just how amazing of a place it is – from the friendliness of the people to the sheer natural beauty. What some people might not know is PA also holds the title of the Mushroom Capital of the World. Yep, one tiny PA town produces half of all of the United States’ mushrooms, and it’s a definite must visit.
A tiny town that spans just over one mile, Kennett Square might be small, but it's bursting with personality. It's home to perhaps the best known garden in the state, Longwood Gardens.
The enchanting small town, about a 45-minute drive from Philadelphia, has also earned the title of The Mushroom Capital of the World. It's a title the town and townspeople fully embrace.
Local farms produce more than half of a million pounds of mushrooms daily, making Kennett Square the largest producer of mushrooms in the United States.
The mushroom is such an iconic member of the community that it even has its own festival, held each September. If you've not been to the Mushroom Festival, make plans to attend the next one.
An annual two-day event, the Mushroom Festival features everything from food made with (what else?) mushrooms, an old-fashioned carnival, and a full menu of activities.
New Year's Eve is another big time to celebrate the mushroom. Holiday revelers, in fact, gather around a massive lit mushroom that rises at the stroke of midnight. Can you think of a better way to start the new year?
Even if you can't make it to Kennett Square for the Mushroom Festival or New Year's Eve, you'll still have some pretty cool mushroom-themed destinations to visit—like The Mushroom Cap.
A delightful shop that's all about mushrooms, The Mushroom Cap sells a little bit of everything—from Christmas ornaments and mushrooms to mushroom hats and t-shirts.
Have you been to the Mushroom Capital of the World? What did you like most about it? A mushroom-themed destination? Longwood Gardens? Join the conversation in the comments! Then check out the 11 ways Pennsylvania has become the coolest state in the U.S.
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