A small group of mushroom enthusiasts decided to have a festival to celebrate Kennett Square’s number one cash crop with the hope of raising funds to give as scholarships to local high school students. In 1986 that became a reality as Kennett Square hosted its first Mushroom Festival. It was a one day affair and just one block long. Thirty-two years later the Festival stretches a mile and features culinary events, growing exhibits, children’s entertainment, and 250 vendors with attendance calculated at up to 100,000 guests. The Mushroom Festival’s Grant Program has given $805,000 in grants to local non-profits since 2000. In 2016, 47 organizations received $85,000 in grants from the Mushroom Festival.