The Maine State Beekeepers Association (MSBA) is pleased to announce we will be holding the second annual Bee Fest at Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta, on Sept. 7.  This special event is free to all, just let us know you are coming by scanning the QR code “Let Us Know You Are Coming” on the attached poster.  This outdoor field day event is for all beekeepers in Maine to gather and discuss hive management techniques and attract new “want-to-be beekeepers” to the art and science of keeping bees healthy and productive in Maine.   

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 your hives for winter, and overwintering nucs.  Honey tasting and smoker contests with gift certificate prizes will also be taking place. 

Karen Thurlow, Master Beekeeper and Master Gardener, formerly of New Moon Apiaries in Yarmouth, Maine, now living in New Brunswick, Canada will be our keynote speaker at this year’s Bee Fest 2025. Karen started beekeeping in 1978 and moved to Maine and her apiary grew to over 100 production colonies. Her experience includes raising queens, nucleus colony production, package bee sales, and wholesale and retail honey sales. She teaches beekeeping management classes, disease and microscopy classes, and serves as a consultant to organizations and beekeepers throughout North America. She is dedicated to raising healthy bees and sharing her know-how with other beekeepers. Currently, Karen works as the Chief Apiary Inspector for the province of New Brunswick. She has a small apiary of her own along the beautiful Chaleur Bay in Northwestern New Brunswick. 

We are planning for over 250 beekeepers to attend and, in addition to the honey bee educational demonstrations, we will have food trucks, free coffee and breakfast treats, and music. Two large tents have been rented and vendors will have the best bee gear and equipment on display. 

The MSBA mission is to promote education in matters related to bees and beekeeping, to assist its affiliate associations and chapters in promoting successful beekeeping in the state of Maine; to foster congeniality among the state’s beekeepers, and to perform all other acts appropriate to a non-profit organization in serving its members. Please scan the poster QR code or visit https://mainebeekeepers.org/  to let us know you are coming to Bee Fest.