Busy Bees: West Virginia Honey Festival to set City Park abuzz
Joy Spencer of Bearsville Bees of Parkersburg gives a taste sample of honey to Ron Richards of Lubeck during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in August 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
Tommy Smith with the West Central Beekeeping Club shows Evelyn Raney of Parkersburg a beehive display during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
Sharon Christ of Hillbilly Honey arranges some of the items she was selling during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
An antique car show is part of the West Virginia State Honey Festival each year. This year鈥檚 show will be on Saturday at City Park. (File Photo)
Charlie Metz, with the help of beekeepers, applies the bee beard during a demonstration at the 43rd annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
Joy Spencer of Bearsville Bees of Parkersburg gives a taste sample of honey to Ron Richards of Lubeck during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in August 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
Tommy Smith with the West Central Beekeeping Club shows Evelyn Raney of Parkersburg a beehive display during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
Sharon Christ of Hillbilly Honey arranges some of the items she was selling during the 43rd Annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
An antique car show is part of the West Virginia State Honey Festival each year. This year鈥檚 show will be on Saturday at City Park. (File Photo)
Charlie Metz, with the help of beekeepers, applies the bee beard during a demonstration at the 43rd annual West Virginia State Honey Festival in City Park in 2024. This year鈥檚 Honey Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park. (File Photo)
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PARKERSBURG -- The setup will be a little different, but the West Virginia State Honey Festival is returning to City Park this weekend.
With construction on Parkersburg's new activity and recreation center ongoing, activities will shift to between the playground and horseshoe pit, with the Band Shell serving as the stage, said Bill Vincent, director of Wood County Recreation, which organizes the event.
The annual Pioneer Antique Auto Club Car Show on Saturday will move as well.
"Because we need the grounds where they usually are, the car show is over by the pond and the big shelter and the cabin," Vincent said. "It's always a great event, and they do a great job."
The car show starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The Honey Festival itself will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the park. Admission is $5, with children 3 and under getting in free.
After the car show kicks off, the festival's children's pageants start at 10 a.m., with ages groups of 0-1, 2, 3 and 4 years.
The older royalty was crowned earlier this month, with Hannah Herndon named Little Miss, Morgan Smith winning Princess, Pranaya Singh earning the Teen Title and CarleighJo Cochran the Queen.
As usual, bees and honey will be a major focus of the activities, with educational programs, exhibits, open hive demonstrations and the ever-popular bee beard. Honey will be sold, along with the wares of more than 40 area craft vendors.
There will be inflatables and bounce houses, as well as train rides for children. Live entertainment will be offered by bands throughout the weekend, including Insured Sound, a local group celebrating its 50th anniversary.