Oregon beekeepers, honey judging, mead, pollinator experts and family activities come together August 29 at historic EdenVale Winery.

MEDFORD, OR, UNITED STATES, August 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Oregon Honey & Mead Festival Returns August 29 to Celebrate Honey, Pollinators and Oregon Agriculture

One of Oregon's premier celebrations of honey, beekeeping and pollinators returns to historic EdenVale Winery with honey tastings, mead, nationally recognized speakers and family activities.

Honey lovers, beekeepers, gardeners and families from across Oregon are invited to attend the 2026 Oregon Honey & Mead Festival on Saturday, August 29, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at historic EdenVale Winery in Medford.

Set among the vineyards and historic grounds of one of Southern Oregon's oldest wineries, the festival offers visitors a beautiful setting to spend the afternoon exploring honey, mead, pollinator education and Oregon agriculture.

Hosted by the Cascade Girl Organization, the Oregon Honey & Mead Festival is a fundraiser supporting pollinator education and programs for children, veterans and the broader community. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about Cascade Girl's veteran beekeeping program during an update presented by project leader Paul Davitt and Chad Burger, Director of Recreation Therapy at the White City VA. The program has introduced more than 50 veterans to the rewarding experience of beekeeping. The annual event has become one of Oregon's premier celebrations of honey, beekeeping and pollinators while highlighting the essential role bees play in agriculture and healthy ecosystems.

Visitors will enjoy honey tastings, Oregon mead available for purchase, educational presentations, live music, children's activities, local artists, food and opportunities to meet Oregon beekeepers from across the state. Guests can sample and purchase honey directly from many of the beekeepers and honey producers exhibiting at the festival.

New this year, Honey Show USA judges David Matis and Erin Olmon will professionally evaluate honey entries submitted by beekeepers using nationally recognized judging standards. The festival will also feature the popular Black Jar Honey Competition, where attendees can taste anonymously presented Oregon honeys and vote for their favorites, giving visitors the chance to compare exceptional honeys and crown the crowd favorite.

Educational presentations will feature Dr. Andony Melathopoulos, Director of the Oregon Bee Project at Oregon State University, and renowned bee educator Dr. Dewey Caron, who will share their knowledge of honey bees, native pollinators and Oregon's diverse pollinator landscape.

Guests can also enjoy complimentary honey tastings paired with cheeses from Oregon's own Rogue Creamery, whose award-winning cheeses provide a delicious complement to the many floral flavors found in honey. Adults 21 and older can purchase mead from Oregon producers while enjoying live music throughout the afternoon.

Festival exhibitors include Oregon beekeepers and honey producers from across the state, meaderies, pollinator organizations, artists and educational groups. Bee-Licious Honey will be among those exhibitors, offering exceptional Oregon honeys from fellow Oregon beekeepers, along with a curated collection of rare and distinctive honeys from around the world. Visitors can compare how flowers, climate and geography naturally influence honey's flavor while learning why no two honeys taste exactly alike.

"One of my favorite things is watching someone taste a honey they've never experienced before. Maybe it's Oregon Meadowfoam that tastes like marshmallow, or maybe it's a honey from halfway around the world. Every honey has its own story, and this festival gives people the chance to discover just how amazing that can be."
Jennifer Lytle
Co-owner, Bee-Licious Honey

Festival organizer Sharon Schmidt says the event is about much more than honey.

"The Oregon Honey & Mead Festival brings together beekeepers, educators, researchers, artists and families to celebrate the remarkable role pollinators play in our food system. We want people to enjoy wonderful honey and mead while leaving with a deeper appreciation for the bees and the habitat they depend on."
Sharon Schmidt
President, Cascade Girl Organization

Event Details
Oregon Honey & Mead Festival
Saturday, August 29, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
EdenVale Winery
2310 Voorhies Road
Medford, Oregon

Advance tickets are available now through Eventbrite. Tickets will also be available at the festival entrance.
• Children 12 and under are admitted free with a parent.
• Veterans with proof of military service receive complimentary admission.
• Indigenous guests with tribal identification receive complimentary admission.

Purchase advance tickets:
Purchase Oregon Honey & Mead Festival tickets
For additional festival information, visit:
Visit the Oregon Honey & Mead Festival website

About Bee-Licious Honey
Founded in 2016 by beekeepers Jeff Garner and Jennifer Lytle, Bee-Licious Honey is a family-owned Oregon company specializing in exceptional Oregon honeys, rare international honeys and bee products. Working with beekeepers in Oregon and around the world, Bee-Licious is dedicated to helping people discover the remarkable diversity of honey through education, tastings and experiences.

Media Contacts
Sharon Schmidt
President, Cascade Girl Organization
Phone: 541-951-5595
Email: Cascadegirl1@gmail.com

Jennifer Lytle
Co-owner, Bee-Licious Honey
Phone: 503-939-9380
Email: Jennifer@Bee-licioushoney.com
Website: Bee-LiciousHoney.com

Jennifer Lytle
Bee-Licious Honey, LLC
+1 503-939-9380
jennifer@bee-licioushoney.com
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