Honey Bee Festival

Published 11:01 pm Saturday, September 29, 2007

HAHIRA — The 26th Annual Hahira Honey Bee Festival will kick off at 7 a.m. on Monday with a breakfast at the Hahira Community Center. State and local decision-makers, as well as families from throughout the area, are invited to attend.

Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. Chairwoman Carol Jacobs said that a full breakfast will be served and everyone who attends will have an opportunity to purchase a commemorative T-shirt and meet Kelly Tjepkes, 2007 American Honey Queen. The Hahira resident hopes the early-morning social gathering will help young and old get excited about the week ahead.

“Everyone’s invited,” she added.

The 26th Annual Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. will continue at 8 a.m. on Tuesday with a walk for all area senior citizens. From Hahira’s Community Center, walkers will stroll through the city. Jacobs said that every Senior Walk participant will receive a certificate and that breakfast will be served.

“Those who cannot walk can ride their golf carts or their motorized chairs,” she added. “We usually have anywhere from 20 to 25 people walking, but we are always looking for more. It is a lot of fun.”

Wednesday, the Busy Bees of Hahira, as members of the 26th Annual Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. committee are known, will host a reception at the Hahira Community Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Tjepkes. At 7:30 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday, the Hahira Lions Club will conduct their annual Hahira Honey Bee Queen pageant, boasting nearly two dozen contestants in five age categories — Wee Miss, Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss — in the Hahira Middle School Cafetorium. A panel of three out-of-town judges will determine a winner in each of the categories based on evening wear and/or casual wear.

The 26th Annual Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc.’s arts and crafts event will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Jacobs said that over 100 vendors from all over South Georgia will be selling handmade treats and goodies along Hahira’s Main Street. Highlights include everything from jewelry to dollhouses to handbags to jellies to baby items.

“We are expecting all kinds of things,” she added.

Friday night, Hahira’s Busy Bees will host a gospel sing on the stage behind the caboose. A variety of groups are scheduled to perform. The music starts at 6:30 p.m., Jacobs said.

Saturday at Hahira’s Pick-in Park, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Recreation, Parks and Community Affairs Department will host a Metric Century Bike Ride. Participants can choose to ride either the 30-mile or 62-mile course, traveling routes through scenic Lowndes, Berrien and Cook counties. Registration will be accepted from 7 a.m. until 7:45 a.m., with riders taking to the streets at 8 a.m.. The cost is $25. All participants will receive a T-shirt, goody bag and lunch.

Also at 8 a.m. on Saturday will be the annual 5K Honey Run/Walk. Registration will be accepted at the Hahira Community Center from 7 a.m. until a few moments prior to race time. Entry is $15 per person and includes a T-shirt and goody bag.

The Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. will conclude its 26th annual celebration Saturday afternoon on Hahira’s Main Street with everything from musical performances to dog shows to funnel cakes to line dancers to carousel rides to a bounce house to a 2 p.m. parade featuring the Georgia Bridgemen from Lowndes High School. This year’s Grand Marshal is Valdosta Technical College President Dr. Robert M. Abene.

“Last year, I bet we had 15,000 to 20,000 people on Saturday,” Jacobs said. “We want all of our area families to gather up the kids and come again this year.”

The much-anticipated annual Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. was started in 1981 by Mamie Sorrell and Adeline Landrum.

For additional information on the Metric Century Bike Ride, call Sirocus Barnes with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Recreation, Parks and Community Affairs Department at (229) 333-1861. For details on the 5K Honey Run/Walk, call (229) 794-3274. To learn more about the Hahira Honey Bee Festival Inc. in general, call (229) 794-3097.