Each year, honey lovers and beekeepers from around the world come together to celebrate one simple, extraordinary thing: honey.
At the heart of Asheville Honey Fest and the Black Jar Contest is a shared curiosity for flavor, a sense of play, and a deep respect for the bees and pollinators that make it all possible. The Black Jar Contest invites beekeepers to let their honey speak for itself—judged purely on taste, without labels or visual cues—while Honey Fest brings the experience to life with tastings, music, artisans, and community celebration. Together, these events honor the craft of beekeeping, the diversity of honey, and the people who care deeply about bee health.
JOIN US FOR A SWEET AFTERNOON
🍯 Asheville Honey Fest V — June 7
Sunday, June 7th, 2026 – Highland Brewing – Asheville, NC – 12pm – 6pm
Join us for the 5th Annual Asheville Honey Fest on Sunday, June 7, at Highland Brewing, in celebration of pollinators, flowers, and honey. Hosted by the Center for Honeybee Research and Explore Asheville, Honey Fest is a fun, welcoming event for honey lovers and supporters of bee health.
Enjoy live music, food and drink, free honey tastings featuring unique flavors from around the world, and stroll among lanes and pavilions of local artisans. Rare and exceptional honeys will be available for purchase—many you won’t find anywhere else.
Shuttles from River Ridge Plaza to the event are provided courtesy of Sun Soo Martial Arts.
🐝 The Black Jar Contest
Now in its 15th year, the Black Jar Contest continues to bring together beekeepers and honey lovers from across the globe for a one-of-a-kind celebration of flavor. This milestone competition will take place later in the year at a separate, dedicated event, created especially to honor the craft, care, and creativity behind the world’s best honeys. Full details will be shared as planning unfolds.
Black Jar Contest entries are open to beekeepers worldwide.
Whether you’re a longtime competitor or entering for the first time, we invite you to share your honey and be part of this global tasting tradition.
To submit an entry, click here.
Deadline: Entries must be received or post-marked by July 31, 2026
Grand Prize is $2500.00 U.S. – blue ribbon – name added to trophy and Center website – bragging rights for the whole world
We will also award $150 each to winners in ten categories – which will be determined based upon the qualities and quantity of entries received. For answers to frequently asked questions click here.