All the buzz about the Honey Bee Harvest Festival

The 3rd Annual Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival is a family friendly community event that celebrates the crucial role played by honey bees, the 900-plus species of Colorado native bees, and other pollinators' role in pollinating crops and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

The event is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with additional funding provided by the Niwot Local Improvement District. Event co-planners are Niwot residents Victoria Keen, Dawn Server of Meadowlake Honey, and Deborah Fowler of DRF Real Estate/Slifer Smith & Frampton, who is Vice-President of the NBA.

The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and features a 'hive' of fun activities and attractions on 2nd Avenue downtown and in Cottonwood Square Shopping Center. Over 40 vendors will participate, with honey and honey products, artisan and craft merchandise, and educational information. There will be a demonstration hive, mead tasting and live music in both locations.

In the morning, children can collect free bee antennae from DRF Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate on 2nd Avenue between 10 a.m. and 12 noon and fly around town with the Queen Bee. Pick up free Colorado honey stix for kids at Few of a Kind Vintage + Mercantile on 2nd Avenue, beginning at 10 a.m. while supplies last.

Plenty of food specials will be available as well. Early arrivals can start the day with a Honey Bee Breakfast at Niwot Market from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. A special Honey Bee Brunch with delicious creations made by Chef Skyla Olds will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the La Musette Food Truck located behind The Niwot Wheel House on 2nd Avenue and Murray Street downtown. Enjoy Italian Lemon Honey Cake and Edible Flower Pots at Cimmini's Restaurant on 2nd Avenue. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A fabulous line-up of musicians, both downtown and in Cottonwood Square, will entertain the crowd. Special guest "Dr. Banjo," also known as Pete Wernick of Niwot, will perform from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the entertainment tent in front of the Niwot Emporium on 2nd Avenue. The Grammy Award Nominee has played with bluegrass legends such as Earl Scruggs on the David Letterman show, and has a devoted fan base worldwide.

Over in Cottonwood Square, the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band will perform at 11 a.m., under the direction of Debbie Benson. See the schedule for the time and location of other musicians performing at the entertainment tent on Cimmini's Patio on 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square.

Another exciting new feature this year is an Open Studios Pollinator Art show at the Former Niwot Feed Store Gallery on 2nd Avenue. In addition to original art, the show will feature demonstrations of encaustic (beeswax) art at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The art show will be open both Saturday Aug. 16 and Sunday Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Across the street at 7 Wealth, join a painting class for kids with two sessions; 2-3 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. There is a $10 materials fee per person. Enjoy watching plein air artist groups on 2nd Avenue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Explore the sweet, robust world of mead (honey wine) by participating in our mead-tasting walk from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. featuring a variety of exotic meads from five Colorado meaderies. Participants must be 21 years or older and can pick up a Mead Walk Passport from either Kathy Trauner at Fly Away Home Decor in Cottonwood Square or at The Wheel House on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Murray Street downtown. Mead stops on 2nd Avenue downtown include The Wheel House, Little Bird Boutique and Osmosis Art & Architecture.

Just around the corner from Osmosis, stop by for a taste at the Niwot Group at Compass Realty on Niwot Road, then cross the road to Fly Away Home Decor in Cottonwood Square. When your passport is full, drop it off by 5 p.m. at either Fly Away Home Decor or The Wheel House to enter a drawing for a free bottle of mead. You do not have to be present to win.

A cornerstone of the festival is the Tom Theobald Speaker Series at the historic Left Hand Grange Hall on 2nd Avenue, named in honor of the long-time Niwot resident who passed away in 2021. Theobald was a beekeeper in Niwot for 40 years and a fierce advocate for pollinators throughout his life. Enjoy fascinating talks by experts on bumble bee conservation, creating biodiverse habitat with native plants, ecosystem development to support pollinators, honey products for health, making a homemade bee-safe mosquito trap, and how to build a bat house for night pollinators. Watch a short video about the inspiring Marshall Fire Pollinator Revitalization Project. The series begins at 10 a.m. with a hands-on exhibit of beekeeping tools and equipment. The subsequent 20-30 minute talks begin at 10:30 a.m. and last until 4 p.m.

Kids activities include Bee Happy Storytime and Crafts at Wandering Jellyfish Book Store from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and beeswax candle rolling inside the Niwot Emporium from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attend the Bee Fun Puppet Show at Blue Sky Craft Studio on Niwot Road from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Be sure to catch the lively Spelling Bee at Inkberry Books in Cottonwood Square from 2 to 3:30 p.m. There are three age groups participating, each limited to 10 children per session. Stop by Inkberry Books soon to register and save a spot on a team. Hint: The spelling bee words are all related to agriculture, horticulture, beekeeping, and pollinators. Prizes will be awarded.

At Niwot Market, savor the aroma of fresh roasted chilis, which will be roasted on-site and sold between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. See the beautiful 'Bee Kind' bouquets for sale at Belle Terre Floral inside the Niwot Market, and peruse the special handmade pollinator jewelry at Pebble Art Jewelry. While you're in Cottonwood Square, head over to Blessings Day Spa for face painting, free bee bottle openers and lemonade from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The charming Queen Bee Horse & Carriage ride will transport you and your family from downtown to Cottonwood Square at no charge between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Be sure to visit Niwot's boutiques, galleries and stores to see their unique array of pollinator merchandise.

At the end of the day, test your knowledge of bees with Bee Trivia at The Wheel House from 4:30–5:30 p.m., and extend your evening by visiting one of the many area restaurants, some of which are featuring honey-inspired menus and cocktails.

Check out the complete schedule at http://www.Niwot.com, or see it posted around town. "Bee" inspired and enjoy this special day.