ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The city of St. Augustine will host its 42nd Annual Arbor Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17 in the Plaza de la Constitución in the heart of the Downtown Historic District.
This year’s event will celebrate the city’s remarkable achievement of 42 consecutive years as a Tree City USA.
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The ceremony will feature remarks by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Fremont Latimer, chair of the Street Tree Advisory Committee.
City officials will also plant a large oak tree in the Plaza, symbolizing the city’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
Attendees will enjoy a performance by Cathedral Parish School’s fifth-grade students, while the city’s newly appointed Poet Laureate is expected to deliver a poem in their first official appearance.
Free saplings and parking options
A highlight of the Arbor Day celebration is the distribution of free tree saplings, including Sweet Bay Magnolia, Chickasaw Plum, Loblolly Pine, and Red Cedar.
Saplings will be available at the ceremony in the Plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until supplies run out. For added convenience, a drive-through distribution will also be set up at 25 W. Castillo Drive, on the north side of Francis Field.
Free parking for ceremony attendees will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility, located at 1 Cordova Street. Upon entering, guests should notify the gate attendant they are attending the Arbor Day Ceremony.
For those who prefer a more eco-friendly option, the STAR Circulator will begin operating at 9 a.m., providing complimentary shuttle service from the Visitor Information Center to the Plaza. Shuttles will also be available for return trips after the event.