Amman: The second Jordanian Honey Festival will open Wednesday at King Hussein Gardens in Amman under the theme "Jordanian Honey... Nature's Authentic Gold," bringing together beekeepers, producers, and visitors for the Kingdom's largest event dedicated to honey and bee products. The five-day festival, which runs through July 26, is organized by the Jordanian Beekeepers Association in partnership with the Hand in Hand for Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Association.
According to Jordan News Agency, the association's participation comes through the "Strengthening Local Beekeeping Networks and Entrepreneurial Excellence in the Bee Sector (PLANBEE)" project, funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED program. The initiative aims to strengthen the sustainability of the beekeeping sector, empower beekeepers, and support the local economy through bee products.
The festival seeks to promote the consumption of Jordanian honey and related products, provide a direct marketing platform linking producers with consumers, raise awareness of the importance of bees in preserving biodiversity and food security, and encourage the exchange of expertise by highlighting successful experiences in the sector.
As part of its participation, the Hand in Hand Association will host a dedicated pavilion introducing the PLANBEE project and its activities to support sustainable beekeeping practices and develop the beekeeping economy. A separate pavilion will highlight the achievements of women beekeepers and showcase their contributions to the sector.
The festival will also feature a variety of interactive activities and specialized pavilions, including a virtual reality (VR) experience simulating beekeeping, a culinary pavilion with honey-based cooking demonstrations, a children's pavilion offering educational and recreational activities for children ages 6 to 14, and displays of rural and heritage products.
In addition, the event will host the inaugural international art forum, "Nectar of Color," bringing together visual artists to highlight the importance of bees and environmental conservation through their work. Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive competitions and win prizes.
The festival will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Organizers expect to attract thousands of visitors from across the Kingdom amid growing interest in Jordanian honey and increasing awareness of the vital role bees play in environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.