Toni with a baked dish
Food & Fun
From tailgate tastings and potlucks to chef dinners, our foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year.
Is it a coincidence that "FFSC" also stands for Fun and Food in Santa Cruz? (Yes, but we'll take it!)
We get together for tailgate tastings, potluck* dinners, and sit-down dinners; as well as demonstration-style cooking programs. Organized foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Some recurring favorites are listed below, and we announce others on a case-by-case basis.
Not sure what to bring to a mushroom potluck? Explore some of our members' recipes for inspiration!
Also see our tips on how to clean and store mushrooms, from drying to salt-preserving to freezing and more.
* For all FFSC potlucks, any wild mushroom dish must adhere to the species list for potlucks, serve at least 10 people, and be labeled with a descriptive tag. See our Potluck Essentials page for details.
Popular FFSC Culinary Events
Learn more about some of our most popular culinary events below, and see the schedule lower on this page for a schedule of upcoming culinary events.
Suds & 'Shrooms Picnic
As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks, a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??)
11 days to the eventNov 08, 2025, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM(Members Only), Santa Cruz, CA, USAThe Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz invites you to join us for our much-loved Fall Dinner on Saturday, November 8, 2025. This year’s gathering will celebrate the flavors of the Mediterranean, a cuisine rich in fresh vegetables, grains, herbs, and of course—mushrooms!
21 days to the eventNov 18, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMCOPAL Restaurant, 1203 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAGet to know this month's speaker, Morgan Yacullo, over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
73 days to the eventJan 09, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PMLondon Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USACelebrate the culinary delights of mushrooms at the annual Fungus Fair After Hours Mushroom Dinner, with a gourmet menu presented by celebrity chef Chad Hyatt.- 84 days to the eventJan 20, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMCOPAL Restaurant, 1203 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAGet to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
- 112 days to the eventFeb 17, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMCOPAL Restaurant, 1203 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAGet to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
- 140 days to the eventMar 17, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMCOPAL Restaurant, 1203 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAGet to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
