Fungi Festival MIKOFEST 2026 Saldus

In Latvia, mushroom foraging is not just a beloved pastime—since 2023, the tradition of gathering and using wild mushrooms has been officially inscribed on Latvia’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Each year, the traveling festival MIKOFEST visits a different historic region. On September 26, 2026, it invites nature travelers, culture lovers, and food enthusiasts to scenic Lutriņi Park in Saldus Municipality to celebrate Latvia's rich forest traditions. Festival Highlights: • Wild Mushroom & Lichen Exhibition: Explore an extensive showcase of freshly gathered regional forest species, presented by top Latvian mycologists. • Mushroom Concert Hall & Art: Experience living fungi bioelectrical signals converted into ambient music via specialized synthesizers, alongside historic mycological watercolor originals by F. E. Stoll and a curated fungi art collection. • Traditional Crafts & Practical Workshops: Live masterclasses in authentic willow basket weaving, blacksmith forging of foraging knives, fungi-based papermaking, and home oyster mushroom cultivation demonstrations. • Talks & Screenings: Fascinating insights into medicinal mushrooms, forest ecology, mycorrhiza, and safe foraging, paired with a screening of the documentary Man with a Basket. • Family & Kids Activities: Claymation workshops and puppet displays by Latvia’s acclaimed "Animācijas Brigāde" animation studio, mobile nature education classrooms, a dark UV room, and interactive woodland games. • Artisan Market & Folk Culture: Autumn farmer's market with local delicacies, alongside open-air folk dancing and live acoustic melodies by regional kapellas and accordion ensembles. Practical Information: • Date & Time: September 26, 2026 | 10:00 – 16:00 • Location: Lutriņi Park, 1 Skolas Street, Lutriņi, Saldus Municipality • Getting There & Extras: Hosted by actress Regīna Devīte; a dedicated round-trip shuttle bus connects the town of Saldus directly to the festival grounds.