By the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
The big buzz in Alpine is about the first Queen Bee Tea and Honey Festival!
Honoring the community’s legacy of having been the honey capital of the world at one time, The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce is presenting the elegant Queen Bee Tea on Sunday, March 5; a Honey Festival VIP Event and Student Art Show Awards on Friday, March 10, and the free Honey Festival on Saturday, March 11.
By the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
The big buzz in Alpine is about the first Queen Bee Tea and Honey Festival!
Honoring the community’s legacy of having been the honey capital of the world at one time, The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce is presenting the elegant Queen Bee Tea on Sunday, March 5; a Honey Festival VIP Event and Student Art Show Awards on Friday, March 10, and the free Honey Festival on Saturday, March 11.
“The purpose of the Queen Bee Tea & Honey Festival is to promote the entire community and to attract people to come to Alpine,” Chamber President/CEO Mary Rynearson said. “We want to bring in more business and tourism as well as get people interested in our local organizations.”
St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, The Alpine Sun, The East County Herald, Dana’s Boutique, Alpine Beer Co., Pearson Brothers Winery, Alpine Regional Center, Glory Bee, Postal Annex of Alpine, Back In Time Vintage Emporium, EDCO Disposal and Dr. Richard Newman and his family are sponsoring the festival.
The catered Queen Bee Tea with a Bee Bonnet Hat and decorated table contests, Dana’s Boutique fashion show, baskets for drawings and vendors and mimosas starts at 11:30 a.m. March 5 at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd.
The $45 tea ticket includes mimosas, complimentary professional event photos and a free gift. Seating is limited for the Queen Bee Tea; RSVP tickets need to be paid in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Queen Bee Tea tickets are available at The Alpine Sun newspaper, 2144 Alpine Blvd.; Dana’s Boutique, 2271 Alpine Blvd.: On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service, 2065 Arnold Way; Postal Annex of Alpine, 2710 Alpine Blvd., and the Chamber office in the Alpine Regional Center, 1620 Alpine Blvd., Ste.208. Vendor space is still available for the tea and the Honey Festival!
The Honey Festival VIP Event from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, is by invitation only at the Community Center.
The festival’s Alpine & Mountain Empire Student Art Contest winners’ celebration and the announcement of Alpine’s 2017 Honorary Mayor will follow there from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This year’s Honorary Mayor candidates —- Clay Mauldin of Clayco Electric & Solar; Ronda McLauchlan, Alpine Education Foundation; Rose Signore, Postal Annex of Alpine and Frank Sturniolo, REACH Air Medical Services —- raised thousands of dollars for local causes.
On Saturday, March 11, park free at Joan MacQueen Middle School, 2001 Tavern Road, and use free shuttles from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to get to six celebration “hives” of activities, information and entertainment.
The locations include the Alpine Community Center; Dana’s Boutique and the Back In Time Vintage Emporium, 2253 Alpine Blvd.; the Alpine Historical Society, 2116 Tavern Rd.; Christ the King Church, 1460 Midway Drive; Alpine Woman’s Club (historic town hall), 2156 Alpine Blvd., and Alpine Garden & Gifts, 2442 Alpine Blvd.
Activities include honey and plant sales, antique bee hives and equipment, and a stage portrayal of John Harbison, the beekeeper who started it all. Free honey cookies and honey lemonade, food for sale and a beer garden.
Children’s Craft Centers and a Children’s Honey Bee Costume Contest are planned. Vendors will offer vintage, natural and unusual items as well as crafts, fashions and food.
For more information, tickets and vendor space, call the Chamber at (619) 445-2722.
