Bee-lightful: Festival puts Lealman in the spotlight

The Lealman Honey and Arts Festival had a constant and steady stream of visitors moving in and out of scenic Raymond H. Neri Park on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon; it wasn’t exactly shoulder-to-shoulder packed, but organizers called it a victory.

It was the inaugural such event, brainstormed by a county-led committee looking to revitalize the unincorporated area in northwest St. Pete.

“We couldn’t ask for a better day than this,” observed assistant county administrator Tom Almonte, a member of the Lealman CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) advisory committee. “Any time you run a first-year event, you run the risk of people not knowing about it. We were really blessed that the word really got out. From all the way in the north county to the south they knew about the event.”

La Lucha onstage.

Augmented by a row of food trucks and a live-music stage, the festival’s titular attractions were well represent by county beekeepers offering locally-sourced honey and honey products, and an assortment of area artists selling original works.

Jon Schlenther, owner of the Mr. Bee Honey Emporium in Seminole, said festival organizers reached out and offered him a spot to put up his tent at the new event.

“We like to do every show we can,” he said. “And a new show that’s just about honey? That was really impressive.”

At the Mr. Bee booth: Sarah Lind and John Schlenther.

Halfway through the day, Schlenther was in good spirits. “I’ve been really happy with it. And we’ve brought all the products from the store so we don’t just have honey – and everything’s been selling. We go to some other shows, we only sell a couple things here and there. But we’ve been selling everything across the board. It’s been really amazing. A good mix.”

Apiarist Becky Dineen, whose A Bee’s Place is headquartered in St. Petersburg, explained that her honey comes from all over Pinellas, including the Lealman district.

“Most of my hives are in Pinellas Park, Seminole and St. Pete,” she said. “I do also place hives in people’s yards, if they want hives for pollination or just to have them.”

When she got the invitation, Dineen explained, “I was a little concerned, to be honest. I’ve lived here my whole life and didn’t know this place was here. So to me this is exciting, because now people know about this lovely park.”

Committee member Steve Cleveland underscored the main purpose for the Honey and Arts Festival, Mark One. “Lealman’s been forgotten for years,” he said. “This is bringing the community together, and people from outside the community into Lealman, to give awareness of where Lealman is. Because if you asked people ‘Do you know where Lealman is?’ you’d get ‘Huh?’”

Summed up Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice, who’d given the day’s opening remarks: “The community really turned out. Folks enjoyed themselves. Some new people discovered Lealman and Raymond Neri Park. Vendors made some money.

“Win win win. Cannot wait for next year.”

Photo by Amy Kagan.