Wake County Beekeepers Association upcoming events

Summer Celebration at The Village at Washington Terrace (July 18, 2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Volunteer with the WCBA at the 2026 Summer Celebration Event at the Village at Washington Terrace. This event is at the garden and green space in a very large residential community attended by people of all ages. We will have activities and presentation materials focused on what we do as an organization and beekeeping in general. Food will be provided for volunteers!

Hands on the Hive with Mr. Buzz (July 19, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Bring your veil and smoker! Grab a friend and come play with some bees!!

WHAT: Watch and participate as Mr. Buzz Ben Crawley inspects real colonies of bees. Questions from the crowd are encouraged!

WHERE: The hives are located near the cotton field at Historic Oak View

WHEN: This event usually takes place on the 3rd Sunday from March-September. The event is weather dependent and may be moved for other conflicts.

The practical exam for the NCSBA Certified Beekeeper program are also given at each Hands on the Hive event, no appointment necessary. Please make sure the instructor knows you are there to take the test at the beginning of the meeting. For the practical part you must bring your own equipment including a smoker, veil, and suit.
The form with the criteria for the practical exam can be found on the state website.

August Club Meeting (August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:00:00 GMT

7pm: ICE CREAM SOCIAL

7:30pm Topic: Instrumental Insemination & Sustainable Hive Management

Speaker: Brandon Simmons

Brandon Simmons is a third-generation beekeeper and the owner of Foothills Farm & Apiary LLC. With a legacy rooted in beekeeping, Brandon seamlessly integrates traditional practices with innovative approaches to support sustainable and resilient honeybee populations. Brandon's journey in beekeeping spans over two decades, during which he has cultivated a deep understanding of hive dynamics and colony health. As the owner of Foothills Farm & Apiary, he leads a breeding program that blends time-tested methods with modern advancements. With a strong commitment to sustainability and chemical-free practices, his program focuses on improving honeybee genetics through instrumental insemination and selective breeding. Under his leadership, Foothills Farm & Apiary has been at the forefront of honeybee breeding for seven years. The program employs a precise approach to genetic selection, utilizing instrumental insemination to propagate desirable traits such as disease resistance, hygienic behavior, and overall colony vitality.
Brandon's dedication extends beyond the apiary; he is actively engaged in research to further understand the genetic factors influencing honey bee traits. His commitment to sustainability is
reflected in his expansion of breeding operations, ongoing genetic studies, and educational outreach efforts. With a vision for a resilient future for honeybee populations, Brandon Simmons continues to
drive progress in beekeeping. Through Foothills Farm & Apiary, he strives to not only enhance honeybee genetics but also educate and inspire a community of beekeepers committed to sustainable practices.

Mud Day at Walnut Creek Wetland Park (August 15, 2026)

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Club member volunteers needed again at MUD DAY! If you are available, please RSVP and details will follow closer to the event.

Walnut Creek Wetland Park is proud to host our 8^th annual Mud Day event on Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM! This family-friendly festival highlights the importance of wetlands and encourages children to explore nature through activities like a mud slide, obstacle course, live animal encounters, and crafts.

Mud Day will take place in and around Walnut Creek Wetland Park’s Norman and Betty Camp Education Center located at 950 Peterson Street in Raleigh.

Hands on the Hive with Mr. Buzz (August 16, 2026)

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Bring your veil and smoker! Grab a friend and come play with some bees!!

WHAT: Watch and participate as Mr. Buzz Ben Crawley inspects real colonies of bees. Questions from the crowd are encouraged!

WHERE: The hives are located near the cotton field at Historic Oak View

WHEN: This event usually takes place on the 3rd Sunday from March-September. The event is weather dependent and may be moved for other conflicts.

September Club Meeting (September 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

7pm Workshop: TBD

7:30pm Topic: Do Insulated Hives Make a Difference?

Speaker: Tito Sierra

Tito is the founder of RALEIGH BEE (https://raleighbee.com), a small NCSBA Certified Honey Producer located 2 miles east of the State Capitol. Tito is a Certified Beekeeper in North Carolina, and is the Vice President of the Wake County Beekeeper Association.

Hands on the Hive with Mr. Buzz!!!! (September 20, 2026)

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Bring your veil, hive tool and smoker! Grab a friend and come play with some bees!!

WHAT: Watch and participate as Mr. Buzz Ben Crawley inspects real hives with real bees. Questions from the crowd are encouraged!

WHERE: The hives are located near the cotton field at Historic Oak View

WHEN: This event usually takes place on the 3rd Sunday from March-September. The event is weather dependent and may be moved for other conflicts.

The practical exam for the NCSBA Certified Beekeeper program are also given at each Hands on the Hive event, no appointment necessary. Please make sure the instructor knows you are there to take the test at the beginning of the meeting. For the practical part you must bring your own equipment including a smoker, veil, suit and hive tool. The form with the criteria for the practical exam can be found on the state website.

October Club Meeting (October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

6:30 PM: Annual Fall Plant Exchange & Club Swap Shop

Plant Exchange
Fall is the best time to divide most perennials. With the approaching cold weather, plants focus on root development and wait until spring to focus on blooms. Plants suffer less stress with being planted in the fall, and although you should water regularly (at least once a week) after transplanting, and continue until frost, after that, baring any droughts, most plants can handle a lot less attention going into the spring.

Want to participate? Here is how it works: You bring bee-friendly plants you want to exchange, and receive a ticket for each plant you bring, that can be exchanged for plants that others bring. You are welcome to bring other plants that you think people might want, but you will only receive a ticket for bee-friendly plants.

Each plant should be accompanied by a tag indicating what it is, and each group of plants that are the same should have a description on an index card, suitable for taking a picture

Equipment Sale (tools, woodenware honeybee products):

If you plan to sell - be at the parking Lot by 6:15, to set up. The parking lot will be marked for the sale and look for volunteers to answer any questions. Also any items not sold during parking lot sale must be taken back by the owner and is not eligible for raffle. However, items can be donated for club use.

You can also post your items on the Wake County Facebook page.

If you plan to buy - the event starts at 6:30. Please bring cash

7pm Workshop: TBD

7:30pm Topic: Flow Hives

Speaker: Willy Tracy

November Club Meeting (November 10, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

7:00 - PLEASE ARRIVE BY 7PM TO ALLOW TIME TO CHECK IN

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION RAFFLE kicks off after everyone checks in. Each member with participation and volunteer credits will earn raffle tickets towards some awesome prizes! There will be many fantastic items you can enter to win. You will be able to choose which prizes to enter your tickets.

*No raffle tickets are for sale, only those earned by members

December Club Meeting (December 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

6:30-8:30PM: WCBA 2025 Potluck Holiday Gathering (Note Time Change!)

Come join us for fun and food at our 2026 Annual Holiday Gathering at the Wake Commons building. This is a perfect time to visit and catch up with fellow club members. BEEKEEPER OF THE YEAR will also be awarded.

The club will provide ham and turkey, as well as beverages and paper goods. Members need to sign up to bring EITHER a side-dish, dessert or bread through signup genius. Look for that!

We look forward to having you come and celebrate this past year and share your bee stories with your fellow beekeepers. It's a great time to share your culture and traditions.