Bug Squad Blog
By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The Disappointing News: The California Honey Festival, initially scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in downtown Woodland, has been postponed due to a forecast of inclement weather. The festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 21.

The Good News: The Hive at 1221 Harter Ave., Woodland, will host a mini-honey festival on Saturday, May 3 to celebrate the bees and honey and the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden will be participating. The free and family friendly event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here's What Happened:  On Monday night, Aprll 28, California Honey Festival coordinator Jordan Waldron emailed the participants: "We have had to make the difficult decision to reschedule the Honey Festival to Saturday June 21 due to the current unstable weather forecast for Saturday's event.  Unfortunately the Yolo County Fairgrounds is not an option like we lucked into last year so this was our best solution.  We hope that you all will be able to still be in attendance with this change.  This change gives us a bit more time to plan and get things even more nailed down and promoted."

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 UC Davis-based 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 webpage.