We will, reluctantly, pardon the pun: The 26th annual Mushroom Festival promises Fun(gi) for All. Sept. 9-11, tour mushroom farms, eat mushroom foods, see the mushroom soup cook-off and browse among 200 vendors set up on State Street in Kennett Square to celebrate—well, what else would you celebrate in the mushroom capital of the world? And guess who will be there? Jennifer Behm of Wilmington, who won Fox’s “MasterChef” after being charged with preparing a dish with mushrooms. (There is justice in the world.) She’ll be joining celebrity chefs Jose Garces and Kevin Sbraga of Philadelphia in the special events tent on Saturday. Not enough celebs for you? “Action News” reporter Alicia Vitarelli will also be on hand. For a complete schedule of events, visit mushroomfestival.org.
Break out your old Sergio Valente jeans. You’ll need them at Denim & Diamonds, the best way to celebrate the end of summer in Kent County. Consider a barbecue with fine food to benefit Meals on Wheels of Delaware. The party happens Sept. 10 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village in Dover. There will be live and silent auctions, music by the ever-fun Funsters and, of course, the area’s best restaurants and chefs:
Abbott’s Grill
Aqua Sol Restaurant
Chop’s Grille / Sheraton Dover Hotel Catering
Cool Springs
Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House
Fifer Orchards
Fordham Brewery
Georgia House Restaurant
Harrington Raceway
Kitty Knight House
McGlynns Pub
Meding & Son Seafood
Philadelphia Distilling
Restaurant 55
Roma Italian Ristorante
Standard Distributing Co.
Texas Roadhouse
Two Tree Restaurant
Unplugged & Uncorked
Where Pigs Fly
Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
Young’s B.B.Q.
Yukon Korean B.B.Q.
The party goes from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m. Tickets are $65. Buy online at mealsonwheelsde.org, or by calling 1-800-62-MEALS.
We love summer, but we’re glad it’s ending. Now the real partying can begin. More on this to come, but so it’s on your radar now: Dover Downs Hotel & Casino will host its inaugural Brew Festival on Oct. 8. All we can tell you is that the theme is the Wild West (meaning Wranglers, not Sergio Valente). Microbreweries from around the Mid-Atlantic will be there, and DD promises great food and entertainment. Party 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rollins Center. Tickets ($25 advance, $30 day of) include 10 drink chits and souvenir glass. Call (800) 711-5882, or visit doverdowns.com. And don’t forget the Delaware Beer and Wine Festival on Oct. 23 at Pizzadili Vineyards & Winery in Felton, More to come on that, too. For now, call (800) 233-5368, or go to visitdover.com.
