Where To Celebrate Arbor Day In Nebraska

It’s about fourth grade when every Nebraska student starts learning about Nebraska history. Inevitably, they learn about J. Sterling Morton and Arbor Day. Read on to learn more about Arbor Day and where it’s celebrated around Nebraska.

UPDATED: This post was first published in 2023, and has been updated in March 2026 with this year’s event details.

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What is Arbor Day?

But first, for those of you who missed that lesson in fourth grade, a quick primer in Arbor Day. Arbor Day is essentially “The Tree Holiday.” Not to be confused with Earth Day, Arbor Day is about encouraging people to plant more trees. The history of the Arbor Day dates back to 1872 when J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree planting holiday during a meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture.

Where is the home of Arbor Day?

It all started in Nebraska City. Neb. You can plan a day trip or overnight trip to explore the town, and specifically, all things Arbor Day Farms. Nebraska City is one of my favorite day trips!

My top recommended stop for families is the Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure. There are a lot of learning opportunities there, plus it’s just all around fun. Take the tour to the apple orchard to hear more about the farm’s history and also try some heirloom apples!

And as a bonus, visit the Tree Adventure’s greenhouse to get your own free sapling to bring home to plant.

The Morton Mansion at Arbor State Park is pretty interesting and located near the Tree Adventure. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for families with little ones since it’s pretty hands-off. If there are outdoor activities there, those would likely be better suited for youngsters.

When is Arbor Day celebrated?

Arbor Day is held annually on the last Friday in April in Nebraska, and that’s when National Arbor Day is. However, some states celebrate it on different days, so you can check the map here to see when your state celebrates it.

You can start thinking about Arbor Day at the start of the month. Throughout April, Arbor Lodge in Nebraska City will host “Celebrating American Heritage: Trees,” an exhibit highlighting the history of tree planting in America. It opens March 13 and runs through April 30.  It explores the history of Arbor Day and its spread throughout the world, and guests will learn what varieties the Morton family planted each Arbor Day. The exhibit is included with regular admission. Fun fact: Eight State Champion Trees are located within the property.

Arbor Day Weekend Celebration is held over three days in Nebraska City, the home of Arbor Day. This year, it runs April 24-26 at various locations including Arbor Day Farm, Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Mansion, and Wildwood Historic Center. Activities include an Arbor Day parade, car show, Children’s Entrepreneur Market, Centennial Flag Display, and a historical play day.

The Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure’s Arbor Day Celebration coincides with the city-wide festivities running April 25 & 26. Activities include Terrific Trees walking tour and birdhouse crafts.

In the Omaha Metro, there aren’t many events that are specific to Arbor Day. The City of Omaha will have an Arbor Day Tree Planting on April 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Prairie Lane Park, 3119 S. 116th St. Special speakers include Omaha’s Mayor John Ewing Jr., Councilmember Brinker Harding, Interim Parks Director Jake Lindner and Forester John Wynn. 

While they are not Arbor Day-specific, Fontenelle Forest has a couple of activities over the weekend, including a Sunset Hike on April 24 and Yoga in the Forest on April 26.

Printables & more ways to celebrate Arbor Day

Celebrate Arbor Day at home using some ideas below:

1. Plant a tree. The special day is about planting trees, after all. You can purchase trees for planting at local garden stores like Mulhall’s, 3615 N. 120th St., Omaha, and Trees, Shrubs & More,  3803 Cornhusker Road, Bellevue, Neb. Or get your free tree to plan at Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure. One other option is to order a tree growing kit for $10.99.
2. Hike or visit an arboretum near you. Sure, you can go to Nebraska City. Or try one of my favorite hikes near Omaha.
3. Go on a tree hunt. Mr. Majestic, a huge swamp white oak, is found in Elmwood Park in Omaha. It was once designated the Nebraska State Champion Swamp White Oak for its size. Go on a trek with your kids to find it (Tip: There will be a plaque near it.)
4. Printables. Whether you’re homeschooling your kiddo or simply want another way to teach about Arbor Day and learn more about trees, here are some printable activities to try at home: Earth Day/Arbor Day Study Unit ($7) by Brilliant Bungalow; Tree Studies Bundle ($12) by Honeycomb Cabin; Seasons of Trees ($2.99, for preschool or kindergarten) by Green Urban Creative; and Earth Day & Arbor Day coloring bookmarks ($2.45) by M2M Party Designs.