Country singer Joe Nichols Is the buzz surrounding the Honeybee Festival in LaFayette.

SATURDAY

› For more information: mycityoflafayettega.org/residents/events/ honeybee_ festival

Bees, bicycles and Billboard chart- toppers are the buzzwords around LaFayette this week as the town gears up for its second Honeybee Festival

on Saturday, June 2, in the town square. The festival, which will always be held the first Saturday in June, is designed to draw attention to the importance of protecting the honeybee population. Regional beekeepers come to the festival to talk to visitors about beekeeping and what everyone can do to protect the bee population.

The festival includes all the expected festival fun: a pageant, barbecue competition, cruise- in with antique tractors, craft and food vendors and a free kids zone.

Entertainment is provided by local acts throughout the day leading up to headliners Craig Campbell and Joe Nichols.

Nichols shot up the country music charts with “The Impossible,” which Billboard declared the “10th most-played country song of 2003.” His hits have included “Gimme That Girl,” “Yeah,” “Brokenhearts-

ville” and “Tequila Ma k e s He r Clothes Fall Off.”

He’s a four-time Grammy nominee and an Academy of Country Music, Billboard, Country Music Association and CMT award winner. His latest album is “Never Gets Old.”

Campbell is also a country artist known for hits “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” and “Family Man.”

In April, Campbell released “See You Try,” his third single under the Red Bow label. “Outskirts of Heaven” and “See You Try” will be featured on his new seven-song EP, “See You Try,” scheduled to be released June 8.

The annual Honeybee Metric-Century Bicycle Ride will also take place Saturday in conjunction with the festival.

The ride brings together professional and local cyclists for a ride through the hills and valleys of Walker County. The $55 registration fee supports reducing registration fees for youth sports, scholarships and recreational programs of LaFay-

e t t e P a rk s and Recreation Department. The ride begins and ends at the LaFayette Recreation Department. Riders have a choice of three scenic routes:

› 10 miles: Mayor’s Tour of LaFayette

This route is an easy 10-mile bike ride led by Mayor Andy Arnold. Riders will see some of the city’s iconic landmarks.

› 34 miles: Historical Ride from LaFayette to Chickamauga

This route is a scenic tour through two small towns. Along the way, riders will see landmarks such as Chattooga Academy/Gordon Hall, the Marsh House and the Gordon Lee Mansion.

› 63 miles: See Rock City Metric

This route i ncludes a stop at Rock City’s Blowing Springs Farm.

For information on start times or to register: www.BikeReg.com/HoneybeeMetric18.

FACEBOOK. COM PHOTO Joe Nichols will perform at the Honeybee Festival in LaFayette, Georgia.