33rd Honey Festival In Arcs-sur-argens: A Weekend To Taste Provence And See Bees In Action.
On October 3rd and 4th, the General de Gaulle square in Arcs-sur-Argens transforms into a small hive open to the public: honey to taste, a hive to observe, and activities for the whole family.
A date to buzz about
The 33rd Honey Festival promises a weekend focused on honey, bees, and the Provençal terroir. Doors open from 9 AM to 6 PM at Place Général-de-Gaulle in Arcs-sur-Argens, featuring a multitude of free activities for both the curious and the passionate. It's an opportunity to get close to the world of foragers without barriers (or almost) and to leave, if you feel like it, with a jar in hand.
See the hive live: the Apimobile
An original device immediately catches the eye: the Apimobile, a glass space that allows you to observe an active beehive and witness a hive opening demonstration. For those who want to understand how a colony lives, it's a small immersive dive, without a space suit, rest assured. The explanations and actions of the beekeepers make the observation accessible, even if one is not familiar with the technical vocabulary.
Taste, compare, learn to savor.
The tasting initiation invites you to discover the diversity of honeys from Provence. Depending on their floral origin, honeys can display very different profiles: Lavender, Wildflower, Heather, Rosemary... So many nuances that tell, in their own way, the landscapes and blooms of the region. No need to be an expert: you learn to identify flavors and textures, and above all to appreciate the local variety.
Animations designed for children (and their parents)
The Olympi'abeilles start from the age of 3. Games, workshops, and small performances allow children to learn about bee anatomy, colony organization, and the role of bees in the environment. There are also simple actions to discover that contribute to the well-being of pollinators, hive painting, and the game "Find the Queen!". In short, an educational and fun program, perfect for awakening the youngest without overwhelming them with information.
From the hive to the jar: the extraction demonstration
The extraction demonstration shows the path of honey, from the hive to the jar. You can see the beekeeper's work, the tools used, and the final step that allows the honey to be jarred. It's a practical and often appreciated moment because it connects the observation of bees to a product that can then be tasted.
Meet the local producers.
The event exclusively welcomes professional beekeepers, as well as producers of beer, cheese, olives, lavender, and artisans selected for their craftsmanship. It is an opportunity to speak directly with those who make honey and other Provençal products, to understand their practices, and to discover the diversity of trades related to the local terroir.
The practical program at a glance
- Apimobile
- Concerts: Saturday from 12 PM to 2 PM with Tony Crooner, Sunday from 12 PM to 2 PM with Jazz Les Arcs-Philartquartet (in front of the Town Hall, near the fountain)
- Introduction to tasting Provence honeys
- Olympi'abeilles for children
- Extraction demonstration
- Children's stories
- Food area
- Photo contest (vote for your favorite photo)
- Smoker contest: Saturday at 2 PM
- Beekeeping activities from the CFPPA of Hyères
All activities are gathered in General de Gaulle Square, with free parking 100 meters away.
Who are the
Provençal beekeeping relies on a structured sector involving several stakeholders: the Association for the Development of Provençal Beekeeping (ADAPI), the Union of Honey from Provence and the Southern Alps, which manages the quality approach IGP/Label Rouge Honey from Provence, and the Provence Honey Cooperative, which ensures ethical and responsible marketing. In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, about 4,000 beekeepers operate nearly 150,000 hives, with a regional production of around 2,500 tons per year. Beekeepers carry out a significant portion of distribution through direct sales (40%), and lavender honey is the main Provençal production, representing more than half of the total production in a normal year. Local beekeeping benefits from quality indicators: the IGP Honey from Provence and two Label Rouges.
A festive atmosphere but also one of transmission.
Beyond the friendliness, concerts, dining, competitions, and activities, the Honey Festival highlights the transmission of knowledge: gestures, know-how, and direct exchanges between producers and visitors. It is typically the kind of event where you leave enriched with an anecdote, a tip for your garden (to help pollinators), or a new variety of honey to try.
Note Well
Apimobile: a glassed-in space allowing visitors to observe an active beehive and attend a demonstration of hive opening.
Olympi'abeilles: fun and educational activities for children (from age 3) to discover the anatomy of bees, the organization of the colony, and the role of bees.
Extraction demonstration: presentation of the steps that allow honey to be transferred from the hive to the jar.
Conclusion and practice
If you feel like spending a weekend enjoying the scent of honey, listening to jazz by a fountain, and watching a beehive in action, the General de Gaulle square in Arcs-sur-Argens offers all this over two days. A rich program, activities for children, and meetings with professionals: enough to leave with new flavors and perhaps a different perspective on bees and their role. Just remember to check the schedule and conditions on-site before you go (concerts, competitions, and activities have defined time slots). Enjoy your visit!
