Honey and Berry Festival
August 17
About Honey and Berry Festival
The Honey and Berry Festival is an annual Armenian celebration of locally produced honey and berries, held each August in the town of Berd in the Tavush region. Often known as the Shamshadin Honey and Berry Festival, it brings beekeepers, farmers and craftspeople together to showcase the agricultural richness of north-eastern Armenia. In 2026 it falls in mid-August, on Monday 17 August.
The Story Behind the Honey and Berry Festival
The festival began in 2011 in Berd, a small town in the Shamshadin district of Armenia’s Tavush province, close to the country’s north-eastern border. The surrounding highlands have long been known for two things: clean mountain air that supports productive beekeeping, and hillsides thick with wild and cultivated berries. Local organisers wanted a way to put these products in front of visitors, support the families who depend on them, and draw attention to a region that sees far fewer tourists than central Armenia.
What started as a modest gathering of nearby beekeepers and growers grew steadily over the following years. Held in and around the green spaces of Berd, including the Soran area, the event now attracts thousands of visitors across its main weekend, with reports of more than 3,000 people attending in busier years. Producers travel in from Berd itself and from villages across the wider Tavush region, turning a quiet provincial town into a lively marketplace for a day or two each summer.
The festival is closely tied to the identity of the Shamshadin area, a name still widely used for this part of Tavush. For many local families, beekeeping and berry growing are not hobbies but a core part of how they make a living. By giving these producers a stage, the festival has helped raise the profile of Tavush honey and berries both within Armenia and among the foreign visitors and diaspora travellers who increasingly make the trip north to see it.
When and Where is the Honey and Berry Festival Celebrated?
The Honey and Berry Festival is held in August each year in Berd, Tavush province, Armenia. The exact date shifts from year to year, as organisers schedule it around the local harvest and a suitable summer weekend, but it consistently lands in mid to late August. For 2026 the festival is marked on Monday 17 August. Because the timing moves, it is always worth checking with local tourism sources or the Tavush regional authorities before planning a visit.
While the festival itself is rooted in one specific Armenian town, the wider idea of celebrating honey and berries resonates well beyond Armenia. August is peak season for honey harvesting and berry picking across much of the northern hemisphere, which is why the date sits naturally close to National Honey Bee Day and other late-summer food and nature observances.
Traditions and Customs
The festival blends a working farmers’ market with a day of music, food and family entertainment. The customs that have grown up around it reflect both the produce on show and the culture of the Tavush region.
- Honey tasting and selling – Beekeepers lay out their harvest so visitors can sample and buy many different types of honey, from light flower honey to darker, stronger varieties drawn from mountain herbs and flowers.
- Berry stalls – Growers bring fresh berries alongside jams, preserves, syrups and dried fruit, giving visitors a chance to taste the region’s berries in every form.
- Traditional cooking demonstrations – Local cooks prepare regional dishes and treats, often showing how honey and berries are used in Armenian home cooking and baking.
- Music and dance – Folk groups perform traditional Armenian music and dance through the day, giving the marketplace the feel of a village celebration rather than a simple trade fair.
- Arts and handicrafts fair – Craftspeople sell handmade goods, from textiles to woodwork, turning the festival into a showcase for the wider creative life of Tavush.
Ways to Celebrate the Honey and Berry Festival
You do not have to travel to Berd to take part. The festival’s spirit, celebrating natural produce, the people who grow it, and the pollinators that make it possible, can be marked anywhere.
- Visit Berd if you can – For those travelling in Armenia in August, a trip to Tavush offers honey tastings, local crafts and mountain scenery well away from the usual tourist trail.
- Buy honey from a local beekeeper – Seek out raw, locally produced honey from a nearby apiary or market stall rather than mass-produced jars, and support a small producer in your own area.
- Go berry picking – August is prime season for blackberries, raspberries and other berries in many regions, so a morning of picking fits the festival theme perfectly.
- Cook with honey and berries – Bake with honey, make a berry jam or preserve, or simply pair the two over yoghurt or porridge to taste the combination the festival celebrates.
- Learn about Armenian food culture – Read about Tavush, its produce and its traditions, or try cooking a regional Armenian dish at home.
- Support pollinators – Plant bee-friendly flowers or avoid pesticides in your garden, recognising the bees that make every jar of honey possible. If you enjoy this side of the festival, you might also like National Urban Beekeeping Day.
Facts and Figures
- The festival was first held in 2011 in Berd, Tavush province, Armenia.
- It is often called the Shamshadin Honey and Berry Festival, after the historic name for this part of Tavush.
- Busier editions have drawn more than 3,000 visitors over the main festival weekend.
- Beekeepers, farmers and craftspeople from Berd and surrounding villages take part each year.
- The event is designed to boost sales of local honey and berry products and to encourage tourism in a less-visited corner of Armenia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Honey and Berry Festival?
It is an annual Armenian festival held in the town of Berd, Tavush province, that celebrates locally produced honey and berries. It combines a producers’ market with music, dance, cooking demonstrations and a crafts fair, and is also known as the Shamshadin Honey and Berry Festival.
When is the Honey and Berry Festival in 2026?
The festival is marked on Monday 17 August 2026. The exact date moves slightly from year to year, always landing in mid to late August, so check local Armenian tourism sources before planning a visit.
Where does the Honey and Berry Festival take place?
It is held in and around Berd, a town in the Shamshadin district of Armenia’s Tavush province, in the country’s mountainous north-east. The Tavush region is known for its productive beekeeping and abundant berries.
Spread the Word
Share the Honey and Berry Festival with your community using #HoneyAndBerryFestival and #HoneyAndBerryFestival2026. Whether you mark the occasion with a jar of local honey or a bowl of fresh berries, every bit of awareness helps celebrate the producers and traditions behind this Armenian festival.
Related Awareness Days
- National Honey Bee Day – Held in mid-August, this day honours the bees that make every honey festival possible.
- National Urban Beekeeping Day – A celebration of beekeeping in towns and cities, and the people who keep hives close to home.
- Sustainable Gastronomy Day – A day focused on local, seasonal food and the communities and traditions behind it.
Links
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