Hot Like Mars & MoonShroom headline 5th Annual FREE Hemp, Hops & Shrooms Festival
Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/19/2026
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
New Era Events Plaza
Categories
CARBONDALE, IL – The 5th Annual Hemp, Hops & Shrooms Festival returns to downtown Carbondale on Saturday, September 19,
from 3–9 PM at the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage at New Era Events Plaza, 200 S. Washington Street.
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.
FOOD + VENDORS + MORE
Come hungry and leave time to explore the festival. Food and drinks include Taste & Live, Gordo’s L.A. Style Hotdogs and
KaiSipsCo. Shop local and regional vendors including Pandas Alley, The Fifth Element by Elena, Kiki Boho, Carla’s Unique Bling,
Consume Carbondale, Petals and Paperbacks, Tailored Made Designs & Alterations, Project Human X, Neighborhood Co-Op, Pinky’s
Distributors, The Survivor Empowerment Center and Carpe Diem, with more to be announced.
Calling All Vendors!
Interested in becoming a vendor? Visit the application link for event dates, vendor fees, location details, and more. Questions can be
directed to eseanti@carbondalemainstreet.com.
EVENT DETAILS
Hemp, Hops & Shrooms Festival
📅 Saturday, September 19 | 3–9 PM
📍 New Era Events Plaza // 200 S. Washington Street, Carbondale, IL
🎟 FREE + ALL AGES
🎤 Presentations & Demonstrations | 3–6 PM
🎶 MoonShroom | 6 PM
🔥 Hot Like Mars | 7:30 PM
Hemp, Hops & Shrooms is presented with support from the City of Carbondale, Carbondale Main Street, Southern Illinois University
Cannabis Science Center, SIU Fermentation Science Institute, Buckwater Brew Works, F-W-S COUNTERTOPS, Elevate Cannabis,
The Thrift Shop CWU, Carbondale Park District, Keep Carbondale Beautiful!
For updates, follow Carbondale IL Tourism on Facebook, @VisitCdale on Instagram or visit ExploreCarbondale.com.
Media Contact: Dena Haun // Tourism & Events Coordinator //(630) 903-0930 // dhaun@carbondaletourism.org
“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix of edge and ease. It’s a
cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as urban sophistication. Here, we are open to new ideas,
experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways. That’s Carbondale…All Ways
Open…for family, fun, business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”