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Mushroom Fanatics Unite For Humungus Fungus Festival

CRYSTAL FALLS (WWJ) - Fungus fanatics may want to bring their own mushrooms to this weekend's Humungus Fungus Festival in Crystal Falls, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

That's because one of the signature events, the presentation and eating of the world's largest mushroom pizza, has been scrapped.

Organizer Jen Sarder says they simply couldn't round-up all the necessary chefs to pull it off this year. But, she hopes some of the other crowd-pleasers do the trick, like the famous strong man contest.

"We have different weight groups and they compete carrying different objects and at the end there is one winner."

Sarder said the festival was inspired by what was once considered the largest underground mushroom in the world. The mushroom reportedly covers 38 acres beneath an Iron County forest near the Wisconsin border. It's believed to be 1,500 to 10,000 years old and weigh about 100 tons.

"We are not the biggest anymore but the festival still goes on. It's still the Humungus Fungus Fest."

Sarder said while they still celebrate the mushroom, they're trying to shift the event's focus.

"That's just the name of it now, but we are actually trying to get away from the Humungus Fungus theme and call it 'A Salute to our Veterans.'"

Festival events include a mushroom cook-off, softball tournament, children's activities, parade, live entertainment and more. For a complete schedule of events and more information, visit www.humungusfungusfest.com.

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