Native to the southern Appalachian Mountains, the sourwood tree brings a distinct twist to this hometown honey fest. Trees at higher elevations tend to produce the best nectar flow, making sourwoods a popular source for honeybees in North Carolina’s mountains. The nectar bees pull from its white clusters of blooms result in a delicately tart, caramel-like honey that’s a little bit richer than most. The Sourwood Honey Festival has been running since 1977 and it’s the place to be to sample this unique variety. Aside from the honey, festivities will include booths with makers and artisans, live music, and kid-friendly activities.
On Saturdays in the Depot District of Lexington, this farmers market offers seasonal produce, baked goods, eggs, milk, and meats all grown, baked, and made by the vendors themselves. And if a weekend trip to the farmers market wasn’t charming enough, a day dedicated to our state insect at the market? Count us in. In celebration of National Honey Bee Day on August 17, they’re making the weekly event extra sweet with a honey taste-testing and educational programming led by the Davidson County Beekeepers Association.
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, what better way to spend National Honey Bee Day than by painting your own bee-inspired pattern onto pottery pieces? Swarm into Salty Dog Pottery and make your ceramic selection from shelves filled with more than a hundred pieces. All pottery creations featuring the pollinator of honor will be awarded with a 10-percent discount.
You can count on downtown Kernersville being abuzz on the third Saturday in August each year, an annual tradition since 1975! This festival brings Fourth of July Park to life with locally made honey, beeswax, bee-themed arts and crafts, and bees in observation boxes where you can see them busy at work. It began with “The Bee Man” in town, the late beekeeper Brady Mullinax. A quote displayed on a plaque at the park with a picture of Mullinax states his wise words: “Bee the job great or small, do it right or not at all.”
When A.C. Cutler’s father, Carl, was undergoing prostate cancer treatment, A.C. discovered that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and, serendipitously, National Honey Month. One of Carl’s biggest passions is beekeeping, and the discovery sparked a plan. Since 2017, The Carl Cutler Run for Prostate Cancer and The North Carolina Honey Festival has been a buzzy event. In addition to the 5K, eventgoers can find entertainment at a street festival, browse products from bee vendor, enjoy live music, peruse craft booths, and watch honeybees at work through the Columbus County Beekeeper’s observation hives. And if you want to prime yourself for the run or the day’s other activities, don’t miss the Charity Pancake Supper leading up to the festival.
Interested in learning more after attending one of these events? Whether you’re a longtime beekeeper, want to try your hand at backyard beekeeping, or are simply in awe of the winged creatures, check out this nonprofit organization’s different courses and programming, from Bee School in August to honey extraction. You can also just stay in the loop by attending their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of every month. If you can’t make it to the meetings or events, check out other happenings in the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association’s official magazine: Bee Buzz.
Eleven Our State authors share stories about the role light plays in their holiday celebrations.
For more than 50 years, a dazzling chandelier has hung in the dining room of the Executive Mansion in Raleigh. Only recently has its remarkable backstory been fully illuminated.
At Burge Flower Shop, Randolph County residents find comfort, joy, and inspiration by the bouquet.
A pair of mother-daughter innkeepers inherited a love of hosting from their expansive family. At Christmastime, they welcome guests to their historic lodge in Stanly County.
