Busy Bees: GEHC Festival Highlights Helpful Insects

From Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

It may be small, but the honeybee plays a huge role in the production of the foods Americans serve on their kitchen tables. Honeybees are the top pollinators of crops in the United States and are responsible for 80 percent of insect pollinated crops.

In recognition of its vital function in the food cycle, the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (EHC) will hold its fifth annual Honeybee Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Honeybee Festival will feature numerous activities for families. There will be bee games, crafts, honey samples, cooking demonstrations with honey by Whole Foods Market and story time. A number of beekeepers and vendors will be on hand to discuss their craft and also to sell their local honey and beeswax products.

Guests will also have an opportunity to play pollinator trivia, experience a honeybee scavenger hunt hike, smile for the “I Love Bees” photo booth and learn from beekeeping information sessions.

One highlight of the festival will be a children’s honeybee costume contest. Get your creativity buzzing in designing your honeybee costume. A honeybee parade around the inside of the EHC will be held at 1 p.m. with judging to follow immediately. For costume rules and details, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.

Program fees for the Honeybee Festival are $5.00 for ages 13 and up and $3.00 for ages three to 12. Children two and under and EHC members are free. For more information on the Honeybee Festival and the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.

(Photo: Things will be buzzing at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center’s annual Honeybee Festival on Sept. 13, 2014.)