By Heather Wood

Save the date and make plans to attend this year’s Annual Cone Health MedCenter Kernersville Honeybee Festival which will take place on Saturday, August 19 in Fourth of July Park from 10:00 am-5:00 pm.

Each year, the third Saturday of August brings a wholesome family event for everyone to enjoy! The Kernersville Honeybee Festival began in 1975 by celebrating the accomplishments of Brady Mullinax, Kernersville’s famous “Bee Man”.

The Kernersville Honeybee Festival has grown to host more than 80+ vendors and attracts well over 10,000 fun and friendly folks from our local region. There are plenty of activities that every attendee can enjoy.

Listen to the sounds of live music on our Vestal GMC Main Stage, bring your chair and stay for one performance or hang out all day. Every year the festival gives local bands an opportunity to showcase their talent. This year we will have a great line-up including Reid Soria (11:00 am-2:30 pm), Michael Ken (1:15-2:45 pm) and Smitty and the Jumpstarters (3:15-4:45 pm). Throughout the day there will be several demonstrations around the park including, Triad Area Blacksmith’s, Cheer, Self-Defense and 100.3 KISS FM personality Kelly Hilderbrandt. The radio station will host a “Singing Bee Contest” beginning at 12:55 pm. To register, arrive early and visit the 100.3 KISS FM booth.

Then, treat yourself to the delicious menu options including, New Orleans style shrimp and steak po’boys, barbecue, kettle corn, ice cream and funnel cakes and more served with hospitality by food vendors from all over the area. There is an array of choices for everyone to your delight your taste buds.

Miss Mary’s Family Fun Hive will keep your busy bees happy throughout the day and is always a blast for all ages! Bring your friends to enjoy face painting, bounce houses, an obstacle course, pedestal joust, scramble slide, dunk booth, pony rides, trapeze and other games. Please be sure to visit the various kid friendly vendor booths also located in Miss Mary’s Family Fun Hive and thank area sponsors, including Kernersville Magazine, Omnisource, Hawthorne at the Meadows, Shipt.com and Metro PCS.

The Kernersville Honeybee Festival is known for its authentic arts & crafts vendors that come from near and far to be part of this unique event to showcase and sell their creations. Stroll the shaded pathways through the park to visit vendors selling homemade jewelry, bath products, repurposed items, quilts, wreaths, baked items and more. As you wander through you will notice a bee theme at nearly every booth. The Honeybee Festival would not be complete without HONEY! Did you know local honey is not only delicious, it helps fight allergies during the season?

To stay up-to-date on the latest information about the Kernersville Honeybee Festival visit our website at www.kvhoneybee.com. If you are interested in volunteering for the Honeybee Festival, please contact Kernersville Parks and Recreation Department at 336-996-3062.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our traditional family festival in Kernersville! Buzz through and see what our town has to offer!