New Festival On Detroit's Belle Isle Celebrates Honeybees

DETROIT (AP) -- A festival on Detroit's Belle Isle is taking place in celebration of National Honey Bee Day.

The inaugural "Bee Fest" is Saturday at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. The free event includes talks by beekeepers, music, crafts and demonstrations on how to plant and maintain a bee-friendly garden. A bee costume parade also is planned for children.

The Nature Zoo features an observation beehive that provides a glimpse into the daily lives of honeybees. The hive is sealed within a double-sided glass case and has a tunnel that offers year-round access to the outdoors.

An aim of "Bee Fest" is to educate about challenges facing honeybees. They fall prey to mites, viruses and Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon in which worker bees disappear or abandon their hives.