AUGUSTA — The Maine State Beekeepers Association is set to hold its first annual Bee Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St.

This outdoor field day event is for beekeepers to discuss hive management techniques and attract new beekeepers to the art and science of keeping bees healthy and productive in Maine. This event is free to all.

Maine master beekeepers and experts on keeping bees in Maine will be presenting over 30 demonstrations at eight different stations showing how to keep honey bees thriving in Maine. Demonstration topics run from Demaree swarm prevention, queen rearing, new mite treatments and usage, reading frames, combining hives, guaranteeing strong winter bees, different methods for preparing hives for winter, and overwintering nucs.  Honey tasting and smoker contests with cash prizes will also be taking place.

A honey bee biologist and author of four books on honey bee behavior, Tom Seeley, will be presenting a talk entitled “Abuzz about Bees.” Five short stories will explain his discoveries of the remarkable mutual communication skills of worker honey bees.

Over 200 beekeepers plan to attend. In addition to honey bee educational demonstrations, there will be food trucks, free coffee and breakfast treats, and music.

Attendees should visit mainebeekeepers.org/  to let the association know they will be there.

Check out other upcoming area events!