KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Despite the search for a fugitive murderer just a couple of miles away, the 38th annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival is attracting tens of thousands of people to the area for food and fun.
Coordinator Gale Ferranto says she’s confident that the secure area in which police are looking for fugitive Danelo Cavalcante will not interfere with this weekend’s festivities.
“I'm not worried,” she said. “I think this is a very secure festival. We know all of our entrance points. We have a security company that's working with us here.”
But Josh from Kennett Square says people are talking about it. “They said it's annoying. So helicopters are making their dogs bark and things like that,” he said, acknowledging how busy the festival was this year.
“[During] the COVID years it was pretty dead. And then we obviously had rain the last two years. But this is really busy, crazy.”
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Within the perimeter of the festival, people look for mushroom-related food and souvenirs. Ferranto says this is a major component of the local economy.
“64% of the mushrooms grown in the United States are grown in Pennsylvania,” she explained. “Kennett Square is the mushroom capital of the world. So agriculture in mushrooms is very important to Pennsylvania and this community in general.”
Attendee Felicia Frances says in addition to the food and fun, there’s also a lot to learn here about Kennett Square mushrooms. “It's amazing,” she said. “You don't realize how much goes into growing a mushroom.”
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In addition to the food, music and family events, there’s also a silent auction of painted mushroom art. Ferranto says the festival is also a fundraiser. “We gave out $77,000 to our grant program, to 57 recipients," including the ALS Association, Chester County Meals on Wheels and the Kennett Library's adult literacy program.
Despite the seriousness of the situation just a few miles up the road, there’s just one question on people’s minds at the festival: what to eat?
“I think you should eat the breaded whole white mushrooms and then the cream of mushroom soup,” Ferranto recommended, “and then grab some of that mushroom ice cream up there.”