Published in the Chester Daily Local, by Chris Barber

September 5, 2014

Kennett Square’s 29th annual Mushroom Festival debuted Friday evening with a parade featuring a visit from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, and a string of citations presented by local legislators.

Corbett walked most of the half mile route along State Street accompanied by Mayor Matt Fetick and followed by several of the state representatives.

He shook hands with many of the spectators and joked with people who were seated along the way eating dinner.

This is the second year the mushroom parade has fenced off sections for the local restaurants to give their patrons front row seats as the procession rolls by.

At 6 p.m. sharp the introductions were announced, and there was just enough time for U.S. representatives Pat Meehan and Joe Pitts to deliver their greetings when the Kennett High School Band marched along with banners flying and trumpets blaring.

The word spread that the band was rushed: they had to go to a football game after the parade.

There was then a 15-minute pause before the next group of marchers, including scout troops and the governor arrived.

The threat of showers that was issued earlier in the day did not materialize, so the diners and spectators were free to stick around afterward for dancing in the street.

The Mushroom Festival continues Saturday and Sunday in midtown Kennett Square.

On Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. it will include classic cars, an amateur mushroom appetizer cook-off, mushroom eating contest, lots of vendors and growing demonstrations. At 7 p.m. there is a concert featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

On Sunday, a mushroom walk-run kicks off the day at 8:30 a.m., followed by the soup and wine festival, remote control plane demonstration, culinary tent and cooking demonstrations, as well as a continuation of the vendors.

The old fashioned carnival runs Friday and Saturday nights until late in the evening and on Sunday until 6 p.m.

(Chris Barber, "Mushroom Festival hosts Corbett and opens the street for dancing," Chester Daily Local, 9/5/14)