Bee Palooza

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan State University hosted an annual Bee Palooza at its Horticulture Gardens to promote pollinator stewardship, or humans’ role in protecting and providing natural resources such as clean water, nectar and pollen for pollinators such as bees, some birds and some bats. The event was held from 2012 to 2019, and a virtual version was held in 2020. 

Bee Palooza makes its return Sunday (Aug. 13), featuring a variety of activities that teach attendees all they need to know about bees and how to help them thrive in the wild.

There will be eight stations throughout the gardens: a Welcome Center where the main events will take place, a Bees Underground station where guests can learn about the difference between social and solitary bees, a Honeybees & Beekeeping station, a Cavity Nesting Bees station where guests can learn about mason and leafcutting bees and how to make bee hotels, a Beecome a Pollinator station with free face painting and other children’s activities, a Bumble Bees & Petting Zoo station, a Gardening for Pollinators station and a Science of Pollination station with free ice cream.
The main events at the Welcome Center include a Bumble Bee Safari at 1:30 p.m., where a bee expert will lead attendees through the gardens and assist with bee identification; a Storytime at 2:30 p.m. with Grand Rapids-based Olivia C. Means, author of “Untying My Wings,” about a caterpillar who learns to be brave and untie her wings; and a Bee Palooza Giveaway at 3:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, including a map of the stations, visit beepalooza.org.