For Immediate Release: 4/20/2023 2:54 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester announced Thursday two events celebrating Arbor Day 2023.
On Friday, April 28, the City will host an Arbor Day ceremony at University Park at 10 a.m. The ceremony will include an official reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation, remarks from community leaders, performances from Goddard School of Science and Technology students, and a ceremonial tree planting.
On Saturday, April 29, the City will host an Arbor Day Festival in partnership with New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill to celebrate Worcester’s green spaces. The event, which has become an annual tradition, invites the community to take part in a day of live entertainment, local fare, and free nature-based activities for kids and families.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at University Park. One hundred free trees, donated by New England Botanic Garden via a sponsorship from Fletcher Tilton Law Firm, will be available to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Arbor Day is a great opportunity for residents to plant trees and celebrate the beautiful green spaces of Worcester,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “The City’s Arbor Day Festival is an opportunity to educate our residents on the importance of our environment. I am proud of the many great partners in our community who work hard to improve our environment and the City as a whole.”
The Arbor Day Festival celebrates Worcester’s 37th consecutive year of earning the Tree City USA designation and the 151st anniversary of Arbor Day. Throughout the year, New England Botanic Garden partners with the City of Worcester and area nonprofits to care for established City trees, plant new trees, and lead urban beautification projects.
“Coming together to celebrate Arbor Day in one of Worcester’s many parks is a great way to get out, enjoy nature, and learn more about what we can all do to be good stewards of the environment,” said New England Botanic Garden CEO Grace Elton. “Trees are extremely important to urban environments and to overall community health.”
Courtesy of Clark University, the first 150 children at the festival will receive free ice cream. In addition to the free tree give-away, the festival will include music, hands-on art and science activities, and kids’ tree climbing. Local vendors Sabrosa Venezuela, Big T’s, and Mrs. Moriconi’s Ice Cream will sell food.
Saturday’s Arbor Day Festival is sponsored by Fletcher Tilton, National Grid, and Clark University. To learn more about the festival visit: facebook.com/events/1808152832897592.
