Burning Mushroom Festival Rocks Land O’ Lakes this Weekend

Hundreds of music and art lovers are expected to converge on Land O’ Lakes this weekend as The Burning Mushroom Festival gets under way.

The arts and music festival has taken place every year since 1998, said XZanthia, its organizer. The festival began initially under a different name and was hosted each year in conjunction with XZanthia’s birthday. The crowd, she said, began becoming “more gothic and metal” every year, so she decided not too long ago to change the name and the type of musical acts invited to attend.

Now’ it’s “more of an artistic hippy festival,” she said.

XZanthia is also the owner of the Florida Modeling Network and co-owner of The Natural Meeting Place-Riverboat Resort.

The event includes a number of live bands that will begin taking the stage today, Sept. 23. Vendors, artists and other performers are also planned.

XZanthia said visitors can expect to see plenty of mushroom props, people dressed up a mushrooms, body paintings and more. There’s also a live art wall and an effigy of a giant mushroom will be burned one evening, as well.

“It’s awesome,” said XZanthia of the event, adding that it draws between 300 and 1,000 people each year.

The gates open at noon today and the festival doesn’t wrap up until 6 p.m. on Sunday. XZanthia said campsites are available for those who want to stay throughout the festival. Campers who create a theme for their sites will have a chance to win a pack of 10 tickets for next year’s festival. The location can accommodate RV and tent campers.  Hookups and Internet connections are available.

Although The Burning Mushroom takes place in a clothing-optional resort, XZanthia insists it’s family friendly.

“It’s not an adult oriented event,” she said. “A lot of people will be bringing their kids.”

The cost to enter is $60 for all weekend, which includes camping. A day pass is $30. Tickets will be available at the door.

The festival takes place at the Riverboat Club in The Natural Meeting Place, 6901 Caliente Blvd. For more information, visit theburningmushroom.com.

The Acts

The lineup for this year’s festival includes:

Friday, Sept. 23

• 12-3 p.m. DJ Christian Lee
• 3-5 p.m. LEAF
• 5-7 p.m. DJ Cloud 9
• 7-9 p.m. The Leylines
• 9-11 p.m. The Astroblak Experience
• 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Green Sunshine Band
• 1-3 a.m. DJ Khaotic

Saturday, Sept. 24

• 12-3 p.m. DJ Uh-Oh
• 3-5 p.m. Fusion Music Experience
• 5-7:30 p.m. DJ 420
• 7:30-8:30 p.m. Dirty Black Halo
• 8:30-11 p.m. Southern Base Allstars
• 11p.m to 1 a.m. Cope

Sunday, Sept. 25

• 12-2 p.m. Open DJ Jam
• 2-4 p.m. Applebutter Express
• 4-6 p.m. DJ Driver