Bee-Line to the Hive
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the City of Oxford will host a full day of outdoor fun and celebration inspired by the modern beehive invented by Lorenzo Langstroth, AKA “The Bee Man of Oxford” (Boen) at Miami University. This day is packed with two exciting events: O.A.T.S. n’ Honey 5k/10k and the Oxford Bee Festival. Visit the event page for more details!
Pt. 1) O.A.T.S. & HONEY 5K/10K Race
Join us for the O.A.T.S. n’ Honey 5k/10k, starting at 9:00 AM at Leonard Howell Park, Oxford, OH. The Oxford Area Trail System (OATS) will begin to offer an active way to celebrate the arrival of spring. Run, walk, or buzz along the paved trail to beat an old record, achieve a personal goal, discover historical landmarks, detour through the preserve, and more! Whatever you do, make sure to take in the sounds of nature along the way.
Pro tip: Visit the bird blind and pollinator garden on your route!
Pre-Race Packet Pickup
Friday, April 17 (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM) pick up your packet the day before the race!
Enjoy Oxford Office
14 W Park Place, Suite C, Oxford, OH 45056
Race-Day Packet Pickup
Saturday, April 18th (7:30 AM – 8:45 AM, 1 hour before the races begin) at the race site:
Leonard Howell Park
5200 Bonham Rd. Oxford, OH 45056
O.A.T.S. & Honey 5K/10K maps
Drop down menu to view 5K/10K route
Both routes will begin and end at Leonard Howell Park.
O.A.T.S. & Honey race merch includes a medal, water bottle, and a sticker!
Pt. 2) Oxford Bee Festival
After the race, the buzzing festivities will continue at the Oxford Bee Festival in Uptown Parks (Oxford Memorial Park), starting at 1:00 PM. Celebrate our essential pollinators with family-friendly activities, honey tastings, educational booths, and local vendors. Plus, the festival stage at the pavilion will be buzzing with live music all day!
Live Music Lineup
(1-4:00 PM) The Wild Honeybees: a 9-piece, New Orleans style R&B dance band, dedicated to bringing the power of a live horn section back to the dance stage.
(5-8:00 PM) King Bee & the Stingers: A 6-piece blues band from Bloomington, Indiana known for many singles being played across hundreds of radio stations nationally and around the world. Get ready as they bring the tunes to move under the Uptown lights.
Festival Activities
- Inflatable tree slide
- Wildflower bounce house
- Mini Putt-Putt Course
- Bumper cars
- Connect Four
- Cornhole
- Gaga Ball
- Selfie-station flower arch at the Oxford hive mural (hosted by Shademakers Garden Center)
- Educational demonstrations
- Honey tastings (hosted by the Butler County Bee Keepers Association)
- Beer Garden (details below)
- Food Trucks (details below)
- Vendors (details below)
Beer Garden
Bee-themed Brews by Misrule
- Hive Mind: Cider with Don Popp’s honey (7.4% ABV)
- Velvet Buzz: milk stout with honey, chocolate, and cherry (6.2% ABV)
Beer On-tap by Misrule
- Bro Hugs: Hazy IPA (7% ABV)
- On the Shoulders of Giants: Czech Lager (4.5% ABV)
- Cradle of Kolsches: Kolsch (4.5% ABV)
Mead by Zen Bee Meadery
- Orange Dreamcicle: Mead with natural orange and vanilla flavors (6.5% ABV)
- Pear of Peaches: Mead with natural pear and peach flavors (6.5% ABV)
Looking for more details? Visit the official event page below! Invite your friends and family on Facebook to the O.A.T.S. n’ Honey 5k/10k and Oxford Bee Festival!
“The Bee-quel” race and festival parody video
Thank you to the Oxford Pub Runners and community members who volunteered to participate in this video!
🐝 Will you be running, buzzing, or both?
