By: The Alpine Mountain
Empire Chamber of
Commerce
Alpine’s buzzing about the First Queen Bee Tea and Honey Festival in early March!
Presented by the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the big celebration starts Sunday, March 5, with the elegant Queen Bee Tea at 11:45 a.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd.
The fun includes a fashion show as well as Bee Bonnet Hat and decorated tea table contests.
By: The Alpine Mountain
Empire Chamber of
Commerce
Alpine’s buzzing about the First Queen Bee Tea and Honey Festival in early March!
Presented by the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the big celebration starts Sunday, March 5, with the elegant Queen Bee Tea at 11:45 a.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd.
The fun includes a fashion show as well as Bee Bonnet Hat and decorated tea table contests.
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 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the center.
All of the candidates in this year’s Honorary Mayor Contest —- 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 money for their favorite charity or good cause. Each candidate will receive a check for the charity funds.
The free Honey Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, will feature family-friendly activities at six prominent Alpine locations. Vendors will be at the Queen Bee Tea and throughout the Honey Festival.
“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.”
The festival honors the honey heritage that pioneer John Stewart Harbison created for Alpine and nearby Harbison Canyon in the East San Diego County foothills. The bee keeper migrated here in 1874 and made this region the honey capital of the world for a time.
Even the Queen of England is believed to have eaten honey from Alpine bees!
Vendors for the Queen Bee Tea and Honey Festival will include Kitty Kathol of Trinity Body Products, offering all-natural skin care products. She’s even donating a basket for the tea.
“We like natural things, more organic food and good honey,” Kathol said about her decision as a vendor. “This is an event featuring that. We have Alpine’s Honey Festival listed on our Facebook events.”
Sponsors for this year’s festival are 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.
Many activities are planned for March 11 at the six festival sites in Alpine. Park free at Joan MacQueen Middle School, 2001 Tavern Road., and catch free shuttles to get to all the locations!
The day begins with opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. at the Alpine Community Center. Viejas Tribal Councilwoman Virginia Christman will present a Native American Blessing and Viejas Bird Singers will perform. Chamber Ambassador Chairwoman Sallie Brown of Mary Kay Cosmetics will sing the National Anthem.
Community Center entertainment includes DJ Tony Gilbert, informational and craft vendors, honey sales, the Children’s Honey Bee Costume Contest, a beer garden and food for sale, including Baron’s Market barbecued chicken!
Winning local art work from kindergarten through eighth-grade students from the Alpine Union School District and the Mountain Empire Unified School District will be displayed that Saturday at the Community Center.
The other Honey Festival sites and their attractions are:
Alpine Historical Society, 2116 Tavern Road —- A history of beekeeping in Alpine, antique bee hives and equipment, honey cookies and lemonade, honey and gift sales.
Christ the King Church, 1460 Midway Drive —- A certified habitat venue, plant and honey sales, and a Children’s Playground.
Alpine Woman’s Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd. —- A John Harbison stage portrayal, honey bee hives to view, honey sales and eight Children’s Craft Centers.
Dana’s Boutique, 2271 Alpine Blvd., and Back In Time Vintage Emporium, 2253 Alpine Blvd.—- Spectacular fashions and accessories, vintage items and Honey Festival bee jewelry for sale.
Alpine Garden & Gifts, 2442 Alpine Blvd. —– Plant sales, craft vendors and kettle corn!
Queen Bee tickets are available at $45 per person. Some vendor space is still open at $40 for one event and $60 for both the tea and the Honey Festival.
For more information, tickets and vendor space, call the Chamber at (619) 445-2722.
