Wake County Beekeepers Association upcoming events

Got to Be NC Festival (May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Join fellow Wake County and Johnston County club volunteers at an educational booth during the Got to Be NC Festival. Located inside the Agri Supply Expo Center, this event showcases NC produced agriculture. WCBA Director Joe Tripp is the coordinator.

To volunteer, sign up HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084EADA62EA46-63011158-gottobe#/

Hands on the Hive with Mr. Buzz (May 17, 2026)

Sun, 17 May 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.

Lake Crabtree Pollinator Festival (June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Volunteer with the WCBA at the Lake Crabtree Pollinator Festival. This is a free, family friendly event with games, crafts, food trucks, and more! We will be presenting information about the vital role honey bees play in our ecosystem. This event will be held at Lake Crabtree County Park. Please reach out to education outreach coordinator Matthew Hurley for any questions.

June Club Meeting (June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

7pm Workshop: Toni Sweetland “Importance of Pollinator Gardens in Sustaining Bees through Dearth”|

Toni Sweetland is a certified, hobbyist beekeeper. In addition to keeping colonies at her home, she is a member of the Holly Springs Food Cupboard hive management team.

Toni has been an Extension Master Gardener of Wake County for 8 years, since her retirement from IBM. She thoroughly enjoys the intersect of bee and plant health and using bees as an excuse to plant more flowers. Much of her volunteer time with the Master Gardener program is spent in therapeutic horticulture and training of new members. She currently acts as Chair of the Extension Master Gardener Management Team. She is also currently pursuing Master Naturalist certification. As part of this program, she will be contributing to the Xerces Society bumblebee atlas, completing surveys at two sites in southeast Wake County during this year’s bumblebee season.

7:30pm Topic: Getting Younger Generations Into Beekeeping

Speaker: Brandon Dillman

The Land & Harvest Festival (June 13, 2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Come volunteer with the WCBA at The Land & Harvest Festival, hosted by the Triangle Land Conservancy. This event is designed to celebrate local agriculture, support Williamson farmers, and provide an opportunity for the community to connect over shared values of land conservation, sustainability and food systems. A key highlight of the festival will be the Farmers and Vendor Market, where attendees can purchase fresh, locally grown produce and support local vendors. We should be able to sell honey and other products of the hive at the festival as well!!!!

Hands on the Hive with Mr. Buzz (June 14, 2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 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.

Summer Conference 2026 (July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Join fellow club members at the Summer Conference in July. This year's conference (a joint meeting with South Carolina and Virginia) features Dr. Samuel Ramsey!). See topics listed below.

This RSVP is used to collect information from those attending so we can plan for a dinner out together. EARLY RSVP is needed to get a number for planning. We will be gathering for dinner on Thursday evening at the Old Fourth Street Filling Station, only a 14 minute walk from the convention center.

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend and we will keep you posted on the dinner plans. We will also meet for a group photo on Friday.

THIS IS NOT A CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, please use this button to visit the NCSBA page on the conference: SUMMER CONFERENCE INFO/REGISTRATION

Keynotes:

Dr. Sammy Ramsey
- Varroa Kleptocytosis – Stealing for the Next Generation
- Tropilaelaps – A Fate Worse Than Varroa
Kaylee Richardson of The Honeystead
- Planting for Honeybees and Your Health
- Sweet Medicine: Crafting from the Hive
Dr. David Tarpy
- The Internal Hive Politics of Queen Bees

Speakers:

Molly Carlson – 2026 John T. Ambrose Student Award Recipient
- The effect of brood pheromone (E-beta-ocimene) on colony growth and queen replacement
Rebecca Craps – NC State, Forsyth County, Extension Agent, Natural Resources and Environmental Systems – Pollinator Matchmaking: Using Native Plants to Support Habitat Restoration
BeeMORE Interns – BeeMORE Student Lightening Talks

Workshops:

Rahman Tashakkori – BeeMon Project: An integrated hive system using predictive AI for bee health
Virginia Webb – Preparing Honey Show Entries
State Apiary Inspectors – Don Hopkins & Team – In the Apiary with the State Apiary Inspectors
Carla Robertson
- Update on the Honey Industry
- Marketing Your Honey & Products of the Hive
Mark Case – What’s Your Why? Beekeeper’s Edition
Etienne Nadeau – Counting Queens Days: Do I Need to Buy a Queen?
Joe Komperda –
- Part 1: An Average Joe Beekeepers Guide to Splits – The Basics
- Part 2: An Average Joe Beekeepers Guide to Splits: Advanced Splitting Techniques
Lynne Swanson – How to Run an Engaging Bee School
Madison Bridges – Mead-making

Other Items to note are:

Master Beekeeper Program testing for all levels Saturday morning Saturday, July 11, 9:00 – 11:00 am; no tests handed out after 10:30 am. You must be registered for the conference to attend.
Live bees onsite: Benton Convention Center is bee-friendly and there will be expert apiary instruction in honey bee management.
Friday Evening Awards Banquet: Purchase your tickets during registration. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

July Club Meeting (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT

7pm Workshop: FUN!!!

7:30pm Topic: Food

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.

August Club Meeting (August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:00:00 GMT

7pm Workshop: TBD

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

Speaker: Brandon Simmons

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.