Family-Friendly Arbor Day Events in the Twin Cities
Most of these events will offer a brief history of Arbor Day and the National Arbor Day Foundation, an opportunity to participate in community tree planting and other family-friendly activities for the local community.
1. Wood Lake Nature Center Earth Day / Arbor Day Celebration
Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Drive, Richfield 55423
Visitors are invited to help clean up litter, participate in a prairie restoration project and visit the booths of an Earth Day fair. Food Trucks onsite. FREE. Sunday, April 23, 2023; 1pm-4pm.
2. Arbor Day at the Arb
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
Celebrate trees with a special story time at 10:30am, self-guided tree bingo, forest bathing from 5-7pm, and tree giveaway from 10am-6pm. Included with Arb Admission: $15/adults; Free for ages 15 and under. April 28, 2023; 9am-6pm.
3. Minneapolis Arbor Day Celebration
Windom Northeast Park, 2251 Hayes St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
The Minneapolis Arbor Day celebration moves parks annually. Last year, it was be held downtown in North Loop neighborhood. Enjoy a street festival, help plant trees, participate in a variety of tree-themed art, games and activities. There will also be live music and food trucks. FREE. Friday, April 28, 2023; 4-8 pm.
4. Edina Arbor Day Tree Planting
Rosland Park, 4300 W 66th Street, Edina, MN 55435
A family-friendly tree-planting event for Arbor Day. Bring gloves, wear sturdy shoes and dress for dirt. Friday, April 28, 2023; 10am-1pm. Pre-Registration Required.
5. Lake Elmo Arbor Day Celebration
Lake Elmo Public Works, 3445 Ideal Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway for residents. Bring a plastic bag to carry your own bare-root tree. April 29, 2023; 9-11am.
6. Robbinsdale Arbor Day Celebration
Lee Park, 3648-3738 Lee Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Celebrate Arbor Day with fun activities, including making tree posters, planting a tree, receive a free tree seedling and cleaning up the park, trail or watershed area. April 29, 2023; 9:30am.
7. Savage Arbor Day Celebration
McColl Pond Environmental Learning & Event Center, 13550 Dakota Ave., Savage, Minnesota 55378
The City of Savage is bringing back its annual Arbor Day celebration at McColl Pond. Enjoy hands-on activities including a bald eagle demonstration by the Raptor Center. FREE & drop in. April 29, 2023; 10am-11:30am.
8. Eden Prairie Arbor Day Walk and Green Fair
Staring Lake Park, 14800 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Join a walk and then peruse the Green Fair vendors for ideas on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Bring a picnic and let the kids enjoy the playground while you are there. April 29, 2023; 10am-1pm.
9. Celebrate Arbor Day in Crystal
Winnetka Hills Park, 8617 31st Ave N, Crystal, MN 55427
Participate in a park cleanup, plant trees and listen to the Mayor’s Proclamation. Learn more and print a scavenger hunt, coloring pages and tree poems here. Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 6-7 p.m.
10. Chanhassen Arbor Day Tree Planting Event
Bandimere Community Park, 9290 Kiowa Trail, Chanhassen, MN 55317A Help the City of Chanhassen look to the future by planting trees. Park in the North Parking Lot. Saturday, May 6, 2023; 9am-11am.
11. SLP Arbor Day and Community Tree Planting Celebration
Sunset Park, 3328 Xylon Ave. S., St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55426
Help plant new trees throughout Sunset Park. Register online on Tree Trust’s website. FREE. Friday, May 13, 2023; 9am-Noon.
12. Eagan Arbor Day Celebration
Sky Hill Park, 3950 Blue Cross Road, Eagan, MN 55122
Celebrate Eagan’s “Tree City” status with family-friendly activities and a formal ceremony. See the Spring catalog for more information. May 17, 2023; 4-6pm.
Kid-Friendly Arbor Day Activities
Although it can be fun to volunteer together, you don’t need to go to an event. Try these activities on your own time.
13. Focus on Trees During a Nature Walk or Tree Trek
Take a nature hike in your own neighborhood or at a park to look for different types of leaves, acorns and other seeds, measure tree trunk diameters with your arms or a measuring tape, and look out for wildlife that call the trees home. Several local parks offer self-guided Tree Treks:
- Indian Mounds Regional Park Tree Trek, St. Paul
- Central Park Tree Trek, Brooklyn Park
- Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood – Printable Tree Quest
- Maple Grove Arboretum – has markers under each tree so you can learn about the trees species as you explore.
14. Make Arbor Day Crafts
The Minnesota Children’s Museum suggested Tree Art as a winter project, but kids can go on a nature walk and do this collage craft any time of the year and make some beautiful trees. Find more information: Cold Weather Crafts.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate and you still want to make some fun tree art, try our Crafty Wednesday: Treasure Art. We made trees with buttons.
Or make a day of it and book a session to build a Fairy Tree House at Heartfelt in Linden Hills. This keepsake will make a fun toy or display for your fairy garden.
15. Learn More About Trees Together
Print a Guide to Arbor Month from the Minnesota DNR. This guide was created for K-8 classroom teachers, but would work for families. It offers lessons and resources for learning about trees.
16. Climb a Tree
Kids who love trees will likely grown into adults who cherish and protect trees. Find your family a good climber and have fun.
17. Arbor Day Story Time
Read some great picture books like, The Lorax or Johnny Appleseed. Maybe you can eat some apples and plant the seeds. Do you think you’ll grow an apple tree?
18. Attract Wildlife to Your Own Trees
Build a bird feeder or birdhouses, a bee hotel or a squirrel Olympics course to encourage wildlife in your own backyard.
19. Visit the Oldest Living Tree in Minneapolis
Explore Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis to see if you can find the Rockwood Oak. It is estimated to be over 300 years old and likely the oldest living thing in Minneapolis. Learn more here.
20. Plant a Tree or Care for a Tree
Not everyone has the space for a new tree. If you do have the space, you could plant a tree in your own yard for your kids to nurture. Otherwise, maybe you can learn about a tree already growing in your own yard or nearby and find ways to nurture it. Some trees need regular pruning. Others need watering during dry times. What does your tree need to be its best?
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