| Mushrooms follow the rain. Maybe your rain stick can bring rain… and mushrooms… | ||||
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Rain sticks are hollow tubes, with internal protrusions, to which small, hard, pebble or bean-shaped material is added then the tube is sealed. Tipping the tube generates sounds that resemble falling rain; some people believe that rain will be attracted to that sound. | |||
| Instruments similar to rain sticks are made in many places in the world. People express their creative and artistic urges with whatever materials are found in their environments and go on to create tools, household goods and musical instruments. In South America, dried cacti are used to make rain sticks, while in Asia, bamboo is used. | ||||
Gabriela Medvetska, originally from Ukraine, is a software engineer by day. Having grown up among lush greenery in her grandma's garden, she has developed a deep appreciation for nature and arts. Her creative expression spans across diverse mediums from writing to electronics to cosplay costumes, bringing together her love of the natural world and technical skills.
She is the winner of the MSSF Fungus Fair poster contest for 2025.
The Mycological Society of San Francisco has been hosting 1 or 2 Fungus Fairs each year since 1969. Fairs have been held in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Marin County. Historical information is available about previous Fungus Fairs: