The Town of Wake Forest will host its annual Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 22, in the vicinity of the E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road. The festivities will include the Arbor Day Expo, with tree seedling giveaway, food trucks, and musical entertainment from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and a formal ceremony at noon.
During the tree seedling giveaway, Urban Forestry Board members, town staff and volunteers will distribute 800 seedlings to area residents while they last. Come early, as this year’s seedling quantity is limited due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Seedling varieties to be given away include buttonbush, American hornbeam, overcup oak, dogwood and Shantung maple. Volunteers will be on hand to help residents decide which seedlings grow best in their respective yard conditions. For more information about the tree seedling giveaway, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/tree-seedling-giveaway.aspx.
The Arbor Day Expo is a family-friendly event featuring a variety of service-oriented civic groups, nonprofit organizations and other local associations that promote proper tree care, environmental stewardship and community service. As part of the expo, urban forestry board members will distribute reusable Tree City cloth grocery bags and temporary tattoos for kids with the Trees are Good logo.
In addition, expo attendees can learn about and sign up for the Wake Forest Tree Stewards Volunteer Program. Children will have the opportunity to participate in various art activities, including building their own birdhouse, and learn more about trees along the interactive Tree Trail.
A number of food and dessert trucks will be on-site, including Cousins Maine Lobster, the VFW and Kona Ice.
Exhibitors will include Home Depot offering a birdhouse building activity for kids, Wake Forest Power, Lions Club, River Hawks wildlife chapter, Grow N Share, Grateful Trees and Bees, Habitat ReStore, Master Gardeners, and NCSU tree climbing demonstration.
Entertainment will include the Tyson Brothers Band, Franklin Academy Jazz Band, and Cyndi’s Faces.
The Arbor Day Expo would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, including Bartlett Tree Experts, Eco Turf Erosion Control, Christi Spencer State Farm and Landscape Masters.
The day’s festivities will culminate with the Arbor Day Ceremony at noon. During the program, Mayor Vivian Jones will accept Wake Forest’s 38th consecutive Tree City USA award and 17th Tree City USA Growth Award. Wake Forest Public Works Department and Wake Forest Power staff will also be presented with Wake Forest’s third Tree Line USA award.
