Honey Festival · September 12–13, 2032 · New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford — Bristol County's SouthCoast city and the 19th century's greatest whaling port, where the Acushnet River estuary, Buzzards Bay coastline, and proximity to the South Dartmouth and Westport agricultural belt create a remarkable honey landscape of cranberry blossom from the vast Plymouth-Carver-Southeastern Massachusetts Peatlands, coastal goldenrod, sea lavender, wild blueberry blossom from the Plymouth County barrens, beach plum along the barrier beaches, and basswood from the mixed hardwood forests of the Freetown-Fall River State Forest — in a city renowned for its status as a National Historic Landmark Whaling District, its Herman Melville and Moby-Dick heritage, and its role as a gateway to the Elizabeth Islands, Cuttyhunk, and the archipelago of Buzzards Bay — is home to a multigenerational beekeeping community whose families have worked hives amid the cranberry bogs, salt marshes, and coastal plain forests of Bristol and Plymouth counties for generations. This September festival at Buttonwood Park celebrates New Bedford's rich honey heritage through producers from across the SouthCoast and South Shore, competitive honey shows featuring rare cranberry blossom, sea lavender, coastal goldenrod, and wild blueberry varietal honeys, guided tastings exploring the dramatic flavor contrasts between coastal salt marsh wildflower and inland bog honey, educational programs on the ecological connections between Buzzards Bay's coastal plain and the vast cranberry-blueberry bog complex of Southeastern Massachusetts, and demonstrations of traditional South Shore beekeeping practices passed down through the Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Azorean immigrant communities that shaped New Bedford's distinctive cultural identity.
Type: Honey Festival
Date: September 12–13, 2032
Location: Buttonwood Park, 425 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Official website: New Bedford South Coast Honey & Coastal 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 Massachusetts Honey Sourcing Guide for local variety recommendations.
Find local honey sources near the event, explore the best honey for your needs, or take our honey personality quiz to find your perfect variety.
Browse all upcoming honey events across the country.