Media and Publicity

If you're a member of the press or just looking for news about the Fungus Fair, we've collected useful info for you below.

Fungus Fair Logo Artwork

Members of the press are welcome to download and use these Santa Cruz Fungus Fair art files for publication. Please credit the artists and copyright holders.

2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Logo

This year we held a logo design contest focusing on “Underground Wonders: Secrets of the Fungal Kingdom” as the 2026 Fair theme.

The winning design was created by Viel Xander Olaguera (@vxolaguera) from Torrance, CA. The logo will be used on this year's T-shirts, posters, and postcards. Plus, several of the other contest entries will be on display during the Fair.

The 2026 logo uses the concept of “wood wide web” to emphasize the underground network of fungi that connects our world's plants. The design portrays the following California fungi, selected for their different features (from left to right and down):

Zombie-ant fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis), growing from its host carpenter ant
A lobster mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum), a parasitic fungus best known as an edible delicacy and for dyeing textiles
A King Bolete (Boletus edulis), better-known in grocery stores and restaurants as "porcini"
Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), a plant pathogen known to arborists as "oak root rot," to the curious for its bioluminescent mycelium, and to others for its subtle nutty and sweet flavor
A death cap (Amanita phalloides), one of the most poisonous fungi in the world
Mycelium, as the "wood wide web"

Inspired by the bioluminescence of honey fungus mycelium, the logo on this year's Fungus Fair T-shirt will also glow in the dark!

If you use the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair logo in publications, please include these credits near the image:

Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera
© Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz

Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz Logo

You are welcome to include the FFSC logo in news articles, and visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History's website for their logo.

Example of FFSC Logo	Downloads
FFSC logo, with full name
FFSC logo, acronym only

2026 Fungus Fair Poster and Postcard Vector Images (PDF)

If you use the poster or postcard images, please include these credits near the image:

Logo Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera
Poster Layout: Lynn Piquett
© Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz

Past Fungus Fair Photos for Publication

301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

Visitors at the 51st Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Photo by Hugh Smith

Feel free to download and use any of the images on this page for your articles in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair.

We ask that you please credit the photographers. Thanks!

History of the Fungus Fair

The Fungus Fair originated in 1974 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, led by the efforts of David Arora, who went on to write “All That the Rain Promises and More” and “Mushrooms Demystified”, which is widely considered to be one of the best and most comprehensive mushroom guidebooks available.

As the Fungus Fair grew, it found new homes throughout the county, including Harvey West Park and London Nelson Community Center. During the pandemic years of 2021-2023, the Fair took on new forms, as the Virtual and Outdoor Fair with a full week of live video lectures plus two weekends of small group, expert guided forays, and the Mini Fungus Fair held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.

In January of 2024 the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz partnered again with the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum to bring the Fungus Fair triumphantly back to the London Nelson Community Center, celebrating the 50th anniversary with our largest event ever.

The 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair will be the 39th Fungus Fair organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz.

Visit the FFSC History page for more about the origins of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair.