Honey Festival · August 15–16, 2032 · Burlington, Iowa
Burlington — the Des Moines County city on the dramatic limestone bluffs of the Mississippi River in southeastern Iowa, where the rugged ravines and wooded hillsides of the Driftless Area fringe support extraordinary populations of basswood, black locust, wild black raspberry, goldenrod, and diverse hardwood forest wildflower that yield some of the most richly flavored honey in the entire upper Mississippi valley — in a community renowned for its dramatic Snake Alley (the 'crookedest street in the world'), its storied Mississippi River heritage as a 19th-century river port, and its vibrant arts community anchored by the Burlington Steamboat Days tradition — is home to a multigenerational beekeeping community whose families have harvested honey from the limestone bluff forests and bottom-ground clover fields for over a century. This August festival at Crapo Park celebrates Des Moines County's honey heritage through producers from across southeastern Iowa's Des Moines, Lee, Henry, and Jefferson counties, competitive honey shows featuring regional basswood, black locust, clover, and Mississippi bluffs wildflower honey, guided tastings exploring how the Driftless landscape's dramatic topography produces Iowa's most complex honey flavors, and educational programs connecting Burlington's agricultural and natural heritage with the beekeeping traditions that have shaped the upper Mississippi valley.
Type: Honey Festival
Date: August 15–16, 2032
Location: Crapo Park, 2901 Crapo Street, Burlington, Iowa
Official website: Burlington Mississippi River Bluffs Honey & Heritage Festival 2032
Honey festivals feature tastings, vendor booths, educational talks, and family-friendly activities celebrating local honey production and beekeeping traditions.
Discover 210+ honey varieties before attending, or learn how to read honey labels to make informed purchases. Explore our Iowa Honey Sourcing Guide for local variety recommendations.
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