Threat of Storm Cancels California Honey Festival
The Hive in Woodland Will Host a Mini-Festival; CAMBP to Participate
The threat of a storm has cancelled the annual California Honey Festival, initially scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in downtown Woodland and now being rescheduled there for Saturday, June 21.
However, The Hive at 1221 Harter Ave., Woodland, will host a mini-honey festival, a free and family friendly event, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate bees and honey. The UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden will be among those participating.
California Honey Festival coordinator Jordan Waldron notified the participants Monday night of the cancellation. "Unfortunately the Yolo County Fairgrounds is not an option like we lucked into last year so this was our best solution."
Waldron related that as of "this morning (April 29) it was showing 70 percent chance of rain, high humidity and 10 mph-sustained winds with gusts up to 25 mph."
Amina Harris, retired founder and director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center and the co-founder of the California Honey Festival (2007) with the City of Woodland, decided--with her family--to host a mini-honey festival at The Hive. She and her family own Z Food Specialty and The Hive.
Harris' daughter, Shoshana Zeldner, director of Brand Strategy, wrote today to her subscribers: "10 years ago my family helped found the California Honey Festival. This Saturday, May 3 would have marked the 7th California Honey Festival! This event draws more than 35,000 people to downtown Woodland in celebration of honey bees and honey. We couldn't have been prouder to have been founding members of this landmark educational festival. We've worked every single festival. My brother Josh and I manage our business' presence at the event, my mom managed the UC Davis Center for Honey and Pollination's learning activities until she retired, and sometimes we even hosted the After Party at The Hive.
"Even when I wasn't living here, I'd drive back to work every single festival. I have memories of rolling my dad in his wheelchair down the streets at his last California Honey Festival in 2018 — just a month before he passed away. It's an event none of would choose to miss. And we don't want you to miss it either. Last night we learned that this year's event has been postponed due to weather. If you couldn't guess it, we're making the most of it all, rain or shine. We'll be celebrating at The HIVE on Saturday with a full day of fun, learning, honey tasting and more. UC Davis Arboretum Ambassadors and the California Master Beekeeper Program will be leading FREE hands-on activities for people of all ages.
"We haven't missed a California Honey Festival and we don't want you to miss one either," Zeldner wrote.
The California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) had planned six stations at the downtown Woodland venue.
- Station 1: Honey Bee ID Under the Microscope: Get a close-up look at queens, drones, and workers to learn how to identify the castes of a honey bee colony.
- Station 2: Pest ID Under the Scope: Discover the threats that bee face, including varroa mites
- Station 3: The 4 Ps – Pests, Pathogens, Pesticides and Pasture: Learn from the experts at the UC Davis Bee Haven how integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and planting pollinator-friendly flora can help protect our bees.
- Station 4: Pollinator Educator and Crafts: A kid-friendly zone with fun, creative bee crafts like pom-pom bees and pollinators, coloring, music and "our famous pet-a-bee box"
- Station 5: CAMBP and Sacramento Area Beekeepers Inormation Booths: Ask questions about becoming a Certified Master Beekeeper and joining your local bee club. Topics also will include "Can I place a bee colony in my backyard; what are the city or county regulations? How can I volunteer? How can I become a certified Master Beekeeper?"
- Station 6: Bee-utiul Photo Booth: Strike a pose with pollinator-themed backdrops, wings, antennae and even a full bee costume
At the mini-festival, "we'll be offering microscopy, an observation hive, and children's arts and crafts," said co-program manager Wendy Mather, who will be dressed in her "Bettinia the Bee" costume and available for photo opportunities. "And I'll also be asking for help to make seed cookies, too, in partnership with the Planet Bee Foundation," she said.
CAMBP activities will be a "hands-on experience that brings science, stewardship, and creativity together in one exciting day!" said Mather and co-program manager Kian Nikzad. CAMBP, founded and directed by Elina Lastro Niño, professor of Cooperative Extension, Apiculture, and a member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty, is a science-based, continuous train-the-trainer program. CAMBP's vision is "to certify Honey Bee Ambassador, Apprentice, Journey, and Master-level beekeepers so they can effectively communicate the importance of honey bees and other pollinators within their communities, serve as mentors for other beekeepers, and become the informational conduit between the beekeeping communities throughout the state and UC Cooperative Extension staff," according to its website.
"Learning by Leading" Habitat Horticulture and Arboretum Ambassadors will lead hands-on learning activities for all ages. Attendees will learn how to support bees, butterflies, and other garden guests. The opportunities:
- Design your own pollinator garden
- Pick your “Future Favorite” plant
- Take the “Meet Your Garden Neighbor” quiz
- Play the Pollinator Matching Game
- Take home recipes for making your own potted plants for pollinators
- Collect your Climate Hero badge
See more information on the May 3rd event on The Hive web page.