A new festival is coming to Matakana, and it's got us buzzing! The Big Buzz festival will be held at Matakana Primary School, on the 14th of February 2021, celebrating all things bees.

Bee in Hand by Fabian Keller

The Big Buzz Festival is a free family-friendly, fun-filled country fair in Matakana with stalls of all things bees, food vendors, live entertainment, music, talks and workshops, children's activities and much more. Experience the wonderful world of these little pollinators, and all things associated with them, from honey to cosmetics, from health to gardening, from conservation to environmental awareness.

The Big Buzz festival is the brainchild of two passionate beekeepers: Grass Esposti and Isabella Sullivan. 

Grass is a founding member and secretary of the Warkworth Beekeepers’ Society and has created Beetopia NZ Ltd, a unique educational concept which introduces practical beekeeping to those interested in becoming keepers of bees. Grass has also recently launched the NZ Honey Tasting Shed which offers guests the opportunity to savour honey varietals from throughout Aotearoa, plus honey pairings with local produce.

Isabella Sullivan has a strong background in event planning and management, having worked for the likes of the Auckland War Memorial Museum and The Auckland Festival of Photography. In 2012, Isabella and her husband David acquired an olive grove in Matakana and relaunched brand and distribution of Matakana Extra Virgin Olive Oil. In 2015, Isabella developed a keen interest in beekeeping, becoming a beekeeper herself and discovering a lifetime passion which she shares with family and friends.

The Big Buzz is open to volunteers, vendors and sponsors. If you Wanna bee part of the Buzz? Contact them on [email protected]