Come Sept. 21, the city of Oregon will be abuzz with all things bee related.
Honey Fest, said to be the sweetest event of the season, is set to take over the Oregon Recreation Soccer Fields, 5401 Starr Extension.
This is the second year for the event, according to city of Oregon Parks and Recreation Commissioner Tim Borton.
“We used to do a fall festival, but when Joel Mazur came here as the city administrator, he thought we needed to do something different,” Mr. Borton said. “Many places have fall festivals. We talked about the fact that there are a lot of beekeepers in our region. We have at least three of them in Oregon. We also have the Maumee Valley Bee Keepers Association here, so the honey festival was born.”
The city has partnered with the beekeepers association along with the Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce for the event. This year's event is also sponsored by Cenovus Energy.
According to Mr. Borton, more than 500 people attended last year’s event. This year’s festival will include more contests, events, and vendors.
“The public really loved the fest last year, so we decided to expand it,” he said. “Really, what’s not to love about honey?”
Mr. Borton said there will be local honey vendor booths as well as local vendor booths featuring honey and bee-themed products. Honey vendors will have honey to sample, so people can take home their favorite honey and honey products.
Roger Myers, a beekeeper in Swanton and past president of the Maumee Valley Bee Keepers Association, will be bringing his Myers wildflower honey to the fest.
“The honey I have is really a smorgasbord of honey,” Mr. Myers said. “We have so many flowers around here in Fulton County that the resulting product has a great, natural flavor.”
Mr. Myers said he has been a beekeeper for 27 years. He currently has 100 colonies of hives on his property.
“When I moved out here to the country I decided I wanted to have a big garden,” Me. Myers said. “Problem was there were no pollinators here to help my garden grow. That is when I decided to become a beekeeper.”
Mr. Myers said Fulton County now has many beekeepers and lots of honey bees.
“They pollinate all of the fruits and vegetables we eat as well as the cows, chickens, and more also eat,” he said. “There would be nothing without the pollinators. I can now say that we are holding steady when it comes to honey bees around here. The city of Toledo mowing down the wildflowers near the zoo shows we need to have more education about bees and the importance of pollinators. We are starting to see more and younger keepers and the public is finally understanding how important bees and other pollinators are.”
The city of Toledo said it has worked to find a design that used the same native plants that were in the median to support wildlife, as well as increase the number of trees in the median to provide additional environmental benefits.
New this year is the Sip & Paint event. For a fee of $30, participants can attend one of two sessions to create a work of art. Artists and attendees alike can sip adult libations.
“We will be creating a watercolor bee painting,” Mr. Borton said. “Honey-based meads and ales will be available for purchase.”
Catch a Buzz honey brown ale as well as Blue Bird Express, a blueberry blonde ale with honey, both created by Buffalo Rock Brewing Co. from Waterville, will be available on tap.
Funky Turtle Brewing Co. from Toledo will also have Triple Berry and Caramel Latte mead available for purchase.
Contests include a photo contest, baking contest, and best honey contest.
There will be a cornhole tournament from noon to 4 p.m, a pie-eating contest for 8 to 10-year-olds beginning at 12:30 p.m., a Cutest Ba-Bee costume contest at 10:30 a.m., and a bumble dog costume contest at 11:30 a.m.
Also new this year, visitors to Honey Fest can learn about and play pickleball in the city’s new courts.
“We have pickleball courts located near the soccer fields,” Mr Borton said. “From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. people can learn a little bit about the sport and how to play.”
A musical performance by Chloe & the Steel Strings will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
After the music ends, watch as Mr. Myers attempts a “‘bee beard” live.
“Bee beards are for crazy beekeepers because they are cheap entertainment,” Mr. Myers said. “I have seen it done at state fairs and decided it was my turn to try it. I have full faith in my bees.”
Food trucks and concession stands will be onsite. T-shirts and sweatshirts will all be for sale as well.
For more information or to register for contests and events, go to oregonohio.org/honey-festival-2024.
First Published September 14, 2024, 7:42 p.m.
