Plumbing 
After its second one-year hiatus, the Uvalde Honey Festival is scheduled to return to downtown Uvalde on June 9-10 under the direction of the Uvalde Main Street program.
The festival will coincide with Four Square Friday, typically held on the second Friday of the month, when Main Street district businesses stay open late.
Harkening back decades to a time when Uvalde Honey Queens were selected on a yearly basis, the Uvalde Honey Queen pageant will return on June 8, under the direction of the Uvalde Good Eggs.
Vendors will set up on the plaza on June 9, offering various food, crafts, games and more. “A Bee in Your Bonnet” hat competition, showcasing contestants flashiest hats, is also set June 9.
On June 10, Breakfast with the Bees is set from 9-11 a.m. at the Uvalde Grand Opera House annex, 104 W. North St., with a cost of $5 per person. Tickets will be available at the door. Other events include live music, a 5K, and a Honey Bake-off.
Celebrating Uvalde’s rich history as the “Honey Capital of the World,” the festival – first held in 2019 – was conceived of by Lacie Huddleston, Wymberley Pfalmer, and Rosie Whisenant Kimball, who was the manager of the Uvalde Grand Opera House at the time.
After being canceled in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic, it was held again in June of 2021, attracting approximately 1,700 people. Portions of the 2021 festival may be seen on an episode of the travel television show YOLO Texas.
It was again canceled last year, after the Robb Elementary School shooting.
Main Street manager Gloria Resma said Huddleston, who is a board member, asked that Main Street coordinate the event this year.
“Because of the growth of the festival and my personal obligations to my business and my family, the festival will be transferred to the Main Street Uvalde program,” Huddleston said.
Pageant, bake-off
Resma said events will kick off June 8 with a Uvalde Honey Queen pageant, which offers the winner a $1,000 scholarship. A runner-up, dubbed a princess, will receive a $500 scholarship.
Applicants must be between the ages of 16-18 years old as of June 1, 2023, and be willing to represent the county at required events.
An application, available at www.uvaldetx.gov/main_street, and 300-word essay are due by June 1, and the winner is set to be announced at a luncheon set June 8 at 11:30 at the Uvalde Grand Opera House annex.
The bake-off will be held June 10, with cakes, cookies, brownies and pies that have honey as the main flavor accepted. Prizes will be awarded for first through third place.
Contestants may not have more than two entries, but are eligible for only one prize. All submissions must be homemade, and though teams may enter, only one prize will be awarded.
Items will be judged on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest, and judging is based on taste and appearance.
Turn-in time is 12:30 p.m. at the Uvalde Tea Room, 114 W. North St.and winners are set to be announced at 2 p.m.
Vendor registration
Resma also said vendors are being sought for the two-day event, set to run from 5-9 p.m. on June 9, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 10.
Those who apply and register for booth space before 5 p.m. on April 28 may pay $75. Late registrants, from 5 p.m. on April 28 through 5 p.m. on May 12, will be charged $100. Electricity will not be available, and booths will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sales of animals, garage-sale type items, silly string, laser lights, swords, toy guns, fake cigarettes and noise poppers are prohibited.
Registration forms may be found on the Main Street webpage at www.uvaldetx.gov/main_street.
For more information, contact Resma at gresma@uvaldetx.gov or 830-333-9980.
