The participants in the fundraiser for the Ohio Wild Food Fest pose for a group photo.
This is the logo for the Ohio Wild Food Fest featuring antlers, mushrooms, berries, nuts and flowers.

September 28, 2024
9AM – 9PM

Punderson State Park
Newbury, Ohio

$75 per person

get your tickets now!

In the fall of 2024, a group of dedicated wild food foragers are bringing a hands-on educational experience to the Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania region. Even if you live in the city, the knowledge and techniques easily translate to urban foraging!

Come celebrate wild foods, share knowledge, and develop or hone your skills. Spend the day with us learning to identify and forage wild foods!

People of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels are welcome! Experience the different wild foods found around lakes, wetlands, prairies, and forests of this beautiful and diverse park.

Some offerings include:

  • Finding and identifying mushrooms
    and wild edible plants
  • Cooking demonstrations
  • Cultivating wild edibles at home
  • Food systems and sustainability
  • Intro to fishing and hunting
  • Improving your foraging practice by keeping a journal
  • Intro to wilderness herbal first aid

Check out the schedule and workshop descriptions here!

Plan Your Visit

  • bring a hat, rain gear, sunscreen, water resistant boots, and wear layers
  • bring lunch and water for the day, we will serve a light dinner, so if you want to conserve resources, bring a mug for tea, bowl, plate and utensils.
  • don’t forget medications and other over-the-counter products and first aid items
  • be prepared for insects and poison ivy
  • bring whatever helps you learn and retain information: notebooks, camera, field guides, magnifying glass, UV flashlights for the bioluminescence walk, etc.
  • bring cash for raffle tickets, we have some fun books and plants that we will raffle off, tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
  • baskets/bags and a small pocket or kitchen knife for collecting mushrooms, foraging for plants is not allowed.
  • a camping chair, if you have one
  • NOTE – plant foraging is not allowed in state parks, please take photos only!
  • NO DOGS – your furry friend is welcome at the park, but not at classes. If you need to bring your friend, you’ll need to make arrangements during classes or presentations to have someone else take care of your dog.

Getting There

Our home base will be the Sports Chalet in Punderson State Park.

From Cleveland:
Take 77 South to 480 East (exit 156). Stay on 480 East, and follow signs for 271 North/422. Take the 271 North/422 West exit towards Harvard Road/Chagrin Blvd. Take the Harvard Road exit, and turn right on Harvard Road. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Lander Road. In one mile, at the traffic circle, take the second exit onto Pinetree Road. After one mile, take a right onto 87/South Woodland Road. In 2.3 miles, take a left to stay on 87/South Woodland Road. After 10 miles, take a right into the park (WB Cleveland Drive). Take the first left (follow signs to the Sports Chalet), and the road dead ends into the parking lot.

From the Northeast
From I-90, take exit 200 onto SR-44 South toward Chardon. After 1.8 miles, turn right on Girdled Road, then make an immediate left on Auburn Road. Go 13 miles, then turn left on Kinsman Road. After 1.3 miles, make a right into the park (WB Cleveland Drive). Take the first left (follow signs to the Sports Chalet), and the road dead ends into the parking lot.

From Akron:
Take Route 8 North to 271 North. Take the Harvard Road exit, and turn right on Harvard Road. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Lander Road. In one mile, at the traffic circle, take the second exit onto Pinetree Road. After one mile, take a right onto 87/South Woodland Road. In 2.3 miles, take a left to stay on 87/South Woodland Road. After 10 miles, take a right into the park (WB Cleveland Drive). Take the first left (follow signs to the Sports Chalet), and the road dead ends into the parking lot.

Click here for a high-quality version of the map

Lodging

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