Alachua County invites the public to a tree-filled celebration for Florida Arbor Day 2026. This year’s celebration will be held at E.P. Powers Park on Newnan’s Lake (5910 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville) on Jan. 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The celebration offers multiple opportunities to learn about and celebrate trees. Guest speakers and local tree experts will discuss tree care topics such as lightning protection, palm diseases and the importance of trees to butterflies and bees. Participants will help plant trees, learn about caring for trees and take a young tree home.
Free native flowering trees, vital for our native pollinators, will be available to Arbor Day participants while supplies last.
“In Florida, we celebrate Arbor Day in January because the shorter days and cooler temperatures are the perfect conditions for planting trees, but it's is also a great time to study trees,” said Alachua County Arborist Lacy Holtzworth. “County residents love to learn, so we encourage folks to come to our Arbor Day celebration with questions and a curiosity about these magnificent trees living and growing amongst us.”
Florida Arbor Day, celebrated during the third week of January, traces back to 1872 when Nebraska resident Sterling Morton inspired the planting of a million trees. Today, Arbor Day is a cherished tradition across the country, honoring the vital roles trees play in our environment and communities.
Learn more about Arbor Day.
For more information, contact Lacy Holzworth at 352-264-6800 or lholzworth@alachuacounty.us.
