Our Story

The Arkansas Honey Festival is a family friendly event that is open to the general public at no charge for admission. The festival is located on a working Honey bee farm, Bemis Honey Bee Farm, in Little Rock, AR.

The Arkansas Honey Festival was created by Bemis Honey Bee Farm in 2015. The festival's first year was almost its last, due to low attendance. Bemis decided to give the AHF one last chance the following year and it was a success! Since then, the Arkansas Honey Festival has continued to grow and attract festival gowers from across the state. 

The Arkansas Honey Festival is known for its unique take on honey contests. Instead of white gloves and uniform jars as seen in most honey competitions, beekeepers are encouraged to not only show their honey, but their creativity as well. This honey contest judges the honey, the label design, and the overall appearance of the product. This come as you are approach enables beekeepers of all levels to participate in the competition and display their hard work. 

Not only is the honey contest judged by culinary professionals, it is also open to the public to taste and vote. Honey sampling is the highlight of the Arkansas Honey Festival and a crowd favorite. There is no cost to sample the honey.

Mead makers gather to compete in the only official mead competition in the state. While the competition is not open for the public to sample, mead can be purchased at the festival. 

Education is the foundation of the Arkansas Honey Festival and the reason why the festival came to be. Bemis Honey Bee Farm strongly believes knowledge is critical to being a successful beekeeper. As a thank you to their customers, BHBF began recruiting top educators and speakers to teach at the festival. The festival now attracts renowned educators and researchers from all across the U.S. who share their knowledge on the industrious Honey bee.

Many other entertaining attractions can be experienced while at the AHF. Local food trucks serve up some of the finest southern food in the state. Wash it all down with a tall glass of mead while enjoying live music performed by local musicians. Visit the vendors and make a stop by the "Bee Store" to find the perfect bee souvenir  you never knew you needed!

Sponsors have been essential in the growth of the festival. Without their generous contributions, the Arkansas Honey Festival would not be what it is today!