Hemp, Hops & Shrooms Festival -Downtown Carbondale

The free, all-ages festival packs cannabis science, Southern Illinois mushrooms, hemp, fermentation, food, vendors and hands-on demonstrations into one afternoon before MoonShroom and Hot Like Mars take the stage for three hours of free live music. Bring your own chair, bring your curiosity, and plan to stay for the music.

PRESENTATIONS | 3–6 PM

3 PM | Cannabis Without the Hype // Dr. Aldwin Anterola, Southern Illinois University
Move beyond the stigma, marketing and misinformation surrounding cannabis. Dr. Anterola will break down what research actually tells us about THC, CBD, potency, health benefits, risks, cannabis use disorder and product claims. The session will also feature cannabis resources from Carbondale Public Library and a demonstration of a new cannabis health education app being developed by SIU and the library.
4 PM | From Forest to Table: Exploring Southern Illinois Mushrooms // Jessica Mollison & Jamie Collier
Discover what's growing in our own backyard. Learn the basics of identifying and responsibly foraging Southern Illinois mushrooms, along with practical ways to turn them into food, tinctures and extracts.
5 PM | Optimizing Environmental Controls for Indoor Cannabis Cultivation // Dr. Jose Leme, Southern Illinois University
Closing the Knowledge Gap: Cannabis Cultivation Booklet // Isabela Fonseca
From Cannabis consumption to cultivation: A community-based evidence from Southern Illinois // Krish Rauniyar
See cannabis cultivation science in action with a working grow tent on site. Dr. Leme will demonstrate how lighting, temperature, humidity, airflow, ventilation and sensors work together to create an effective indoor growing environment.

DEMONSTRATIONS | 3–6 PM

Hemp for Fiber & Food with Karla Gage and Hunter Buffington
Cooking with Mushrooms & Mushroom Extracts with Jessica Mollison
Cannabis Cultivation with Dr. Jose Leme
Hops, a sensory experience with Lucas Rose and the SIU FSI
Are You a Supertaster? Test your senses with Marta Albiol Tapia and the SIU FSI
Explore how smell affects the way we taste food with Marta Albiol Tapia and the SIU FSI

FREE LIVE MUSIC | 6–9 PM

6 PM | MoonShroom // Kansas City's MoonShroom brings its self-described "Grassadelic TWANG" to Carbondale, mixing bluegrass, Americana and psychedelic grooves into a high-energy live show. The band has shared stages with Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Split Lip Rayfield and Kyle Tuttle Band.
7:30 PM | Hot Like Mars // Chicago's Hot Like Mars closes the night with a dance-ready mix of funk, soul, R&B, rock and psychedelic jam. The fast-rising band has toured nationally and supported acts including Andy Frasco and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.