AVL Honey Fest

Get ready for a truly sweet celebration that promises to tantalize your taste buds and create a delightful buzz in the air – the Third Annual Asheville Honey Fest is back, and it’s better than ever!

There will be live music, vendors, food trucks and a chance for guests to sample and purchase both local and international honey. As a highlight, witness the thrilling live finals of the 13th Annual International Black Jar Honey competition, where local celebrities will determine the world’s best tasting honey.

Bring the whole family! We’ve got a hive of activities for the little ones, including face painting, games, and interactive learning experiences. It’s a day of fun for everyone.

And don’t miss the chance to showcase your creativity – come dressed in your best pollinator-themed costume! It’s all part of the fun at Asheville’s 3rd Annual Honey Festival. For your convenience, personal water bottles are recommended, and families are encouraged to attend.

 Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 2nd and join us in celebrating the wonderful world of beekeeping, honey, and all things pollinators as we help the Center for Honeybee Research with their largest fundraising event of the year. Together, we can make a difference and help save the bees!

Doors open at 12 PM, and the enchanting tunes begin at 12:30 PM. Children under 12, teachers, and first responders with a valid ID receive free admission. Minors must be accompanied by guardian at all times.

Tickets are otherwise required. Enjoy the festival stress-free with our free on and off-site parking, complete with shuttle service, courtesy of Salvage Station.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR DAY OF EVENT INFORMATION HERE:

Please remember: No camping chairs are allowed into this event today.

PARKING: DO NOT park along the railroad tracks, bike lanes, or at other businesses along Riverside Drive! YOU WILL BE TOWED! FREE on-site parking is first-come, first-served and the lot opens at 11AM. On-site handicap parking is available. As always, PLEASE carpool, Uber, Lyft, Taxi, or bike when you can!
FREE OVERFLOW PARKING: Starting at 12PM there will be FREE PARKING available with complimentary shuttle service every 20 minutes (or faster, if traffic is good to us) just down the street at Asheville Visitor Center at 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801.

AGE LIMIT: This event is ALL AGES. Kids under 12 are FREE. All minors must be accompanied by their guardian at ALL TIMES or their entire party will be asked to leave.

REQUIRED: Shirts + shoes are required at all times while on property (this used to be a salvage yard and can be very dangerous for bare feet).

FOOD/BEVERAGE: We will have food trucks on-site with options for everyone, so come hungry! No outside food or drinks are allowed into the venue. Multiple full bars will be open with an incredible selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. EMPTY water bottles are allowed in an effort to cut down on waste. Remember to reduce, reuse and recycle and LEAVE NO TRACE (aka- put your used items in the proper bins when done).

BAG POLICY: ALL guests are subject to being searched prior to entry. No large bags or backpacks allowed into the venue. For the fastest entry, only bring a small, clear bag for your personal belongings.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE VENUE:
-No Pets or Animals
-No firearms, knives, weapons, pepper spray, fireworks, or projectiles of any kind
-No drugs, drug paraphernalia, or illegal substances of any kind
-No personal video cameras, Go-Pros, drones, or lasers
-No professional audio, video, or audio recording equipment – (including detachable lenses, tripods, zooms, or commercial use rigs) without proper credentials
-No inflatables
-No tents or easy-ups
-No frisbees, hula hoops, or balls

WEATHER: All shows are RAIN or SHINE. Please dress appropriately for the weather. SMALL handheld umbrellas are permitted and we recommend wearing layers. Be prepared and remember there is no re-entry!

ABOUT QUEEN BEE & THE HONEYLOVERS:

Queen Bee and the Honeylovers is an unabashedly joyful swing band that performs all-original compositions with a dedicated ‘nod’ to the small-jazz-combo and ‘hot club’ legends who first defined the genre. Their debut album, ‘Asheville’, celebrated their hometown’s history and won them #41 on WNCW’s listener-voted poll of Best Albums of 2019 as well as features on The State of Things with Frank Stasio and PBS Woodsongs. Their video for “Beacham’s Curve” won Best Soundtack at the 2019 Music Video Asheville Awards. Vocal-driven with an infectious groove, the Honeylovers are guaranteed to put a grin on your face and a tap in your toes. 

LISTEN TO QUEEN BEE & THE HONEYLOVERS:

ABOUT CHIKOMO MARIMBA:

Chikomo Marimba is a high-energy Zimbabwean Marimba group based in Asheville, NC. We blend traditional Zimbabwean style marimba with other styles and modern instruments including claves and a drumset. Our music lends itself well to festivals, events, house parties, and other community gatherings.

LISTEN TO CHIKOMO MARIMBA:

About Billy Jonas:

Some ask: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Billy Jonas asks: “What is the sound of 600 sets of keys jingling on the downbeat? And how shall we inspire the audience to do it?”

For over thirty years, Billy Jonas — performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator — has perfected the art of the neo-tribal hootenanny* with audiences around the globe. Using voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion,* each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart healing, joy-filled journey.

“It began around an evening campfire in the summer of 1972 — Leaving on a Jet Plane and Blowing in the Wind rising with the sparks into the darkness… communal singing, guitars strumming, and a bucket thumping the back beat. 40 summer campers and 8 counselors became one big, glorious, harmonizing being. I remember thinking: wouldn’t it be great to carry this ecstatic connectedness, and musical magic out into the world?”
– Billy

Billy developed his craft in the late 1980‘s as a founding member of the Oberlin College Big Bang Theory performance art collective. He refined things further in Chicago during monthly “Bangalong with Billy” shows at the No Exit Cafe, and subsequently in the 1990‘s as a co-founder (with Bill Melanson) of the funky folk* duo The Billys.He currently tours with the Billy Jonas Band, with Abraham Jam (Muslim-Christian-Jewish trio), and solo. The Billy Jonas Band was honored with an invitation to perform at the White House in 2010.

Jonas has received numerous honors and awards, including an American Federation of Independent Musicians 1st place/Gold, multiple Parents Choice Golds, and a New York Times “Best” listing.*

Originally from Chicago, Billy has lived in Asheville NC since 1991.