Your family can experience the sweet taste of beekeeping during the second annual Tennessee Honey Festival. It takes place Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Memorial Park. Admission is free.
The festival offers a day of education and fun focusing on the importance of bees and other pollinators. Founded by U.S. Pest Protection, last year's festival drew more than 10,000 attendees. Again this year, you can sample a variety of honeys, enjoy live music, participate with interactive art stations, sit in on a beekeeping class and other educational seminars, and more. There will be more than 100 vendors at this year's festival offering all sorts of products.
This year's musical lineup includes Rainn, Josh Grey and the Dark Features, Julie & John Pernell, The Hutcheson Brothers, Allie Keck, Damein Boggs and People on the Porch.
The education tent boasts seven seminars led by Tennessee's top beekeeping, honey and pollinator experts. Here's the schedule:
10 a.m. — Attracting Pollinators and Incorporating Native Plants Into Your Landscape
11 a.m. — The Honey Bee Crisis
12 p.m. — How to Get Started in Beekeeping: The Dos and Don'ts
1 p.m. — The Wild World of Solitary Bees. Introduction to Raising and Managing Mason and Leaf Cutter Bees for Higher Yields in Your Garden
2 p.m. — Honey Folklore, Fun Facts on Honey, and Honey Cuisine
3 p.m. — Organic Beekeeping and Mead Making
4 p.m. — Pollinators, Bugs, Butterflies, Bees and More!
NEW THIS YEAR
The most exciting addition to this year's Tennessee Honey Festival is the brand-new Bee Artsy Tent for kids. The tent offers educational and art opportunities. Kids can learn more about the importance of bees and have fun making bee-themed crafts, painting wearable butterfly wings and beehive casings, making mini portraits and more. Some of the activities in the kids' tent require minimal fees.
Nearby, there are more fun attractions like face painting, a flying trapeze artist, flame throwers, a rainbow unicorn and more.
Also new this year is the interactive Mobile Bee Classroom. This bee-friendly, safe experiences helps teach the importance of bees without getting stung.
Memorial Park is located at 151 E. Main St., Hendersonville. Although admission is free, there is a suggested $5 donation. Proceeds benefit bee preservation initiatives.
For more info, visit tennesseehoneyfestival.com.
