The annual
Philadelphia Honey Festival, a celebration of the importance of bees and the honey they produce, has been in existence for just five years now. But to hear Suzanne Matlock of the
Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild explain it, the three-day festival -- running September 5 to 7 at three historic locations throughout the city -- can trace its genesis back to Christmas Day 1810. That was the day
Reverend Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth was born at 106 S. Front Street.
Widely known as the "Father of American Beekeeping," Langstroth is the man responsible for inventing the
Langstroth bee hive. Consisting of movable frames and resembling a stout wooden cabinet, the Langstroth is still considered the definitive beehive for keepers worldwide. So important was his contribution to beekeeping that on the 200th anniversary of his birth, a historical marker noting his accomplishments was raised outside his former Front Street home.
The first annual Philadelphia Honey Festival was also celebrated that year, largely to honor Langstroth's memory and his significant impact on the craft. Only 500 people took part.
But in the seasons since, the event has evolved into a family-friendly educational and cultural celebration promoting urban beekeeping. It aims to "increase awareness of the importance of bees to [the] environment" and "the impact of local honey on our economy," according to a release. Last year, over 2,300 bee-curious locals showed up.
Organized by the Beekeepers Guild and hosted at
Bartram's Garden, the
Wagner Free Institute of Science and
Wyck Historic House, the festival's free events range from bee bearding presentations and open beehive viewings to a honey-themed happy hour and honey extraction demonstrations.
For a complete schedule, click here. (Don't miss the Beekeeping 100 panel on September 7.)
Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Suzanne Matlock, Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild