- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Hear that buzz? See those bees? Taste that honey?
The festival, launched in 2017--and by co-founder Amina Harris, director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center at the Robert Mondavi Institute--aims to inspire "people of all ages to protect and celebrate bees and other pollinators." Admission is free.
"UC Davis will have a slimmed down version this year," said Harris. Some of the events on tap Saturday:
- The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center will showcase its honey tasting wheel and offer free honey tasting.
- The California Master Beekeeper Program will staff two educational booths. Visitors can examine a bee observation hive, check out the beekeeping equipment and peer through microscopes. Kids' activities are also planned.
- The Bohart Museum of Entomology of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematolgoy will showcase bee diversity in its specimen drawers. Its live "petting zoo" will include Madagascar hissing cockroaches and stick insects (walking sticks) that folks can hold, said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator.
- The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden will address pollinator needs and gardening.
- The Woodland Public Library will offer a children's reading hour.
- Uncle Jer's Traveling Bee Show will provide educational performances.
- The UC Davis Bookstores booth will contain honey, books, and other gifts for sale.
- Visitors can don a bee costume and get their picture taken in the UC Davis Pollination Park, a collaboration with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.
Harris said the festival will include live music, a beer and mead garden. Some 100 vendors will sell everything from food to plants to arts and crafts. The first festival drew some 30,000 visitors.
An after-party is planned at The Hive, part of Z Specialty Food, Woodland. Harris, the "Queen Bee" of Z Specialty Food, said advance registration is required. Access https://zspecialtyfood.com/event/california-honey-festival-after-party/.
![The California Master Beekeeper Program will provide a bee observation hive at the California Honey Festival. Here a queen and her retinue can be seen through the glass. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) The California Master Beekeeper Program will provide a bee observation hive at the California Honey Festival. Here a queen and her retinue can be seen through the glass. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/90498.jpg)
![Nectar Director Josh Zeldner of Z Specialty Food, Woodland, is part of the annual California Honey Festival. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) Nectar Director Josh Zeldner of Z Specialty Food, Woodland, is part of the annual California Honey Festival. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/90500.jpg)
![Liz Luu, marketing manager of Z Specialty Food/The Hive, Woodland, will greet guests at The Hive following the California Honey Festival. Refreshments and live music are planned. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) Liz Luu, marketing manager of Z Specialty Food/The Hive, Woodland, will greet guests at The Hive following the California Honey Festival. Refreshments and live music are planned. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/90501.jpg)