LaFayette plans honey bee festival for May 2017

LaFayette has a “sweet” idea for a community-wide event tentatively slated for May 2017: The Honey Bee Festival.

City Manager David Hamilton proposed the idea during last Tuesday’s city council meeting. The festival would be held at the old LaFayette High School stadium (the Ross Abney Complex).

The idea is to host a festival that sets the city apart with a branded themed event — like the National Cornbread Festival in Pittsburg, Tenn.

“Part of what the city is missing is an idea — something that we have that is ours, something that instills pride and brings pride (to the city) — sort of a claim to fame for lack of a better term,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton mentioned several similar festivals including the fall Apple Festival in Winchester, Va., a Pumpkin Show Festival in Ohio and Down Home Days in Chickamauga.

The city manage suggested branding the event as either the Honey Festival or Honey Bee Festival.

“We have talked to Pigeon Mountain (Trading Company), a company right here in town that sells honey bees for honey,” he said. “We’ve also done some research, looked around at surrounding communities, and we don’t see anybody anywhere near us, doing a Honey Bee Festival. I believe there is a tremendous opportunity.”

Hamilton’s proposal includes a fair that focuses on the honey bee theme, as well as live music, vendors and a baking contest.

“I think there is endless possibilities of what could be done there (at Ross Abney Complex),” he said. “It is something that could get a lot of community involvement as well as probably corporate.”

Hamilton said he hopes residents will chime in with their own ideas regarding such an event.

“I think a lot of fun will be in the planning, brainstorming and figuring out ‘what do we want,”’ Hamilton said.

Council member Wayne Swanson pointed out that Ringgold transforms the town for 1890’s Day Jamboree on Memorial Day, and Mayor Andy Arnold termed it a valid idea.

Council member Ben Bradford said it gives the Queen City a different connotation.

“Honey can be symbolic of more than just honey and bees,” he said. “Honey is an all-natural sweetener that a lot of people use. Honey is symbolic. A lot of people are concerned that we are going back ‘all natural’ with natural sweeteners… People want non-genetically modified things (products).

“I think it has got a lot of potential. I think it is a pretty awesome idea.”

WQCH radio’s Rich Gwyn mentioned the Jaycees once held Western Week in LaFayette and council member Beacher Garmany added that a rodeo coincided with Western Week.

“I think the first step should be, you’ve got to market it … and let (locals) be a part and let our local stakeholders be a part of the evolution of this idea,” Bradford said.

Anyone with interest in the festival, who have ideas and want to help, should contact him at the city by calling 706-639-1500.

“I want people to come to us and ask me about it and help plan it. Someone else is going to have good contacts for live music. Somebody else is going to have contacts with fair vendors…. I feel confident that we will have people step forward,” Hamilton said.