Kian Nikzad (left) and Wendy Mather, co-program managers of the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program, will be staffing a booth at the California Honey Festival, set May 16-17, Yolo County Fairgrounds. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey

DAVIS, CA (MPG) - Hear that buzz? It's almost time for the annual California Honey Festival. 

This year's festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 16, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, May 17, on the Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1250 E. Gum Ave, Woodland. Admission is free.

UC Davis is a major part of the festival, which celebrates the honey bee and its products.

UC Davis will be well-represented by the E. L. Niño Bee Lab and the UC Davis Bee Haven, both part of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT);  the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) and Bee Health Hub (BHH). The organizations will be sharing educational and outreach space with the Sacramento Area Beekeepers’ Association (SABA) and The Hive, Woodland.

“This collaborative space will allow us to provide education, demonstrations, and visitor engagement across multiple aspects of honey bees and pollinators,” said Wendy Mather, co-program manager of CAMBP.

CAMBP, Bee Haven, BHH and SABA will staff the education and outreach tables, where festival-goers can learn about honey bee biology; observe the queen bee, workers and drones in the bee observation hive; view microscopy demonstrations; glean information on how to establish a pollinator garden; and learn about beekeeping equipment, bee pests and diseases. Also offered: youth craft activities, books and educational resources.

The California Honey Festival, which aims to promote honey and honey bees and their products, and educate the public about the crucial role of bees and other pollinators, was co-founded in 2017 by Amina Harris, then director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollinator Center (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences); and the city of Woodland.  

On Sunday, several speakers from the UC Davis group will present talks on the Speakers’ Stage. Samantha "Sam" Murray, education and outreach coordinator of the Bee Haven and a member of E. L. Niño lab and CAMBP, will speak at 4 p.m. on "How to Create Your Own Pollinator Garden." Other speakers will be CAMBP members Jean Philippe Marelli, speaking about Melipona, a genus of stingless bees; and Mark Carlson, who will emphasize the importance of pollen and bee biodiversity. 

For more information on the California Honey Festival's educational and entertaining activities (which will include live music, cooking demonstrations and vendors), access the website at https://californiahoneyfestival.com/