Holly Ridge will be having their 1st annual Bee Festival on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 as a street fair / farmer’s market on Sound Road from 10am until 3pm. Venders will include food, arts & crafts, activities for kids, pirates and plants and flowers. Educational exhibits will teach all ages about the importance of bees and our environment. Local beekeepers will be available to show displays as well as share information about how to become a beekeeper. Seed packets will be handed out to encourage the growth of wildflowers (which are essential to a healthy bee population). The Greater Topsail Garden will be on site to talk about their amazing new community garden and there will be a DJ to keep the music flowing.
How did Holly Ridge become a bee city? Last spring, the Times Newspaper did a front-page story about “No Mow May” which is a national movement to encourage people to allow native flowers and vegetation to grow, feeding the bees and pollinators, through the month of May. Holly Ridge Town Manager, Heather Reynolds, saw the importance of the movement and decided to put it before the town council. After a unanimous vote, the application was submitted, and the fee was donated by Busy Bee Committee Co-chair Tony Rydzynski. Several towns, cities and campuses throughout North Carolina have become members of the Bee City, USA and Bee Campus, USA organizations that work to help communities change regulations to allow natural, wild growth to keep the bees and pollinators (like butterflies) healthy and able to do their job. Being a member of Bee City USA also requires the member to promote growth of flowers and native plants, through the community, gardens and education.
Holly Ridge officially became the 201st Bee City USA in December of 2023.
The Busy Bee Committee wanted a unique design for this year’s T-shirt so students at Dixon Elementary school were given an opportunity to use their imagination. Student Kennedy Erickson won with the “Let it Bee” design. Make sure you pick up one of these collectible and fun shirts while visiting the festival. The festival will open at 10am and run through 3pm and will be located between Highway 17 and North Dyson Street on Sound Road.
Questions? Call the Holly Ridge Town Hall at (910) 329-7081 Monday – Friday.
