Morton Arboretum plans Arbor Day celebrations
A national holiday to commemorate trees, Arbor Day has significant meaning at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
Established in 1872 by the Morton family, Arbor Day is a special day set aside to plant, care for, and honor trees and all they bring to our daily lives.
Trees bring us cleaner air and water, a stronger sense of community and natural beauty. But the trees that grow alongside people in cities and suburbs need human intervention and care to thrive.
This Arbor Day, The Morton Arboretum is celebrating trees and encouraging everyone to be a tree champion with new events and returning favorites, both at the arboretum and in downtown Chicago.
For more information, as well as photos of the arboretum's Arbor Day events, visit mortonarb.org/arborday2016.
Arbor Day activities at the arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle:
• Festivities begin with The Champion of Trees 10K at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 24. Runners will follow the challenging USATF-certified course through the arboretum's East Woods and enjoy a post-race party during this sixth annual event.
• Visitors will receive free entrance to the arboretum on Arbor Day, Friday, April 29, when they take part in "Dress Like a Tree, Get In Free." Participants can don a brown hat and green shirt or go all-out in celebration of trees.
• "Little trees" are invited to take part in the Tree-rific Kids' Costume Contest at 10:30 a.m. and pose for pictures in the photo booth.
• On Friday, April 29, families can join Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat for story time and a special tree planting at 11 a.m. in the Children's Garden. Activities celebrating Arbor Day will take place in the garden from Friday, April 29, through Sunday, May 1.
Celebrating Trees downtown Chicago:
• From Friday, April 22, through Monday, May 9, trees throughout Chicago will feature brightly-colored tags highlighting some of the many reasons Chicagoans should be a tree champion in their city and beyond.
This year, several premier Chicago-area cultural institutions have partnered with the arboretum to raise awareness by tagging their own trees.
• On Friday, April 29, Daley Plaza will undergo an amazing transformation as the arboretum hosts its second annual Arbor Day Celebration and Pop-Up Plant Clinic. Those who stop by during this daylong event will be witness to a tree unlike any they've seen before.
The event also will offer Chicagoans the opportunity to vote for their favorite trees and get expert tree and plant help from staff and volunteers of the arboretum's Plant Clinic.