Come join in the fun during Arbor Day. On April 24 - 26, 2009, Nebraska City will celebrate the 137th Annual Arbor Day. Founded by environmentalist J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day has spread around the world as a way to promote conservation and tree planting. As the home of Arbor Day, Nebraska City has many festivities planned throughout the weekend for the whole family.
The weekend festivities will begin Friday, Arbor Day, at 4:30 p.m. with the Community Tree Planting at Wildwood Park. This will include 15 different organizations coming together to plant trees as part of an overall plan put together by the City of Nebraska City.
Immediately following, the public is invited to head to the Nebraska City Fire Station for a new tradition — the Chili Cook-Off. The Cook-Off features local cooks hoping to win the top prize with their recipes. The public is invited to enjoy samples from the contestants or a bottomless bowl. Dinner is served 5-7 p.m. and costs $5 per person.
Follow in the footsteps of J. Sterling Morton at the fourth annual Arbor Day 5K Run & Walk. Registration is open until the 8:30 a.m. race on Saturday. Registration forms for the 3.1 mile run and walk are available online at www.NebraskaCity.com; the $22 registration fee includes a custom-designed t-shirt, goodie bag, and after-race snacks.
A new event scheduled on Saturday this year is a “Paws for a Cause” Pet Walk being organized by the Nebraska City Rotary Organization. This will take place in Steinhart Park 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The “Growing Green For Our Planet” Parade will be held in downtown Nebraska City on Saturday at 1 p.m. The 10-block long parade features the 2009 Arbor Day Honoree and 2009 Tree Planter Award winners, marching bands, church groups, businesses and organizations.
On Sunday the Commemorative Tree Planting at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park recognizes the 2009 Arbor Day Honoree and the 2009 Arbor Day Tree Planter Award winners. Immediately following the planting of trees, there will be a reception and the Community Music Festival. This will include local musical talents, the Southeast Nebraska Community Band and the winning poems from the Arbor Day Poetry Contest.
Attendees will want to visit and enjoy activities at the Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure, the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center, Kimmel Orchard, the Morton-James Public Library, and Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts.
