Arbor Day in Graham 2026
About Arbor Day in Graham
Arbor Day Activities
Tree Resources
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
About Arbor Day in Graham
About Arbor Day in Graham
The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board advocates the planting and preservation of trees on public rights-of-way and public properties, and we work to educate residents on the importance of trees in all areas of our community. The Board serves as an advisory board to the City Council as it relates to the planting, growth, and protection of trees and native plants within the City. Graham has also been recognized as a Tree City USA community for four decades, with 2026 being our 45th year!
Join the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board during March and April to celebrate Graham’s trees and Arbor Day with engaging programs and activities to spark your curiosity and enhance your knowledge about trees! Keep an eye on the City of Graham’s Recreation & Parks Facebook page for special Arbor Day activities and helpful tree resources.
Proclamation – City of Graham Proclaimed April 25, 2025, as Arbor Day in the City of Graham at the March 11, 2025, City Council Meeting
Are you planting a tree in Graham?
Share your pictures of planting a tree on social media with #ArborDayinGraham! We would love to share all of the trees being planted around Graham for Arbor Day!
#ArborDayInGraham
Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day Art Contest
Entries Accepted: March 1 – 31, 2026
Winners Selected: Monday, April 6, 2026
Age Groups: Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High School Students, & Adults
Cost: Free
Drop-Off Locations & Times:
• Graham Recreation Center (during operational hours) • 311 College Street, Graham, NC 27253
• Email to Arbor Day in Graham
About: The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board invites the community to celebrate Arbor Day by showcasing their creativity through art inspired by the theme “All About Trees.” Submissions may include painting, drawing, photography, poetry, and more.
Entries may be emailed or dropped off at the Graham Recreation Center during regular operating hours from March 1–31, 2026. Participants must be residents of Alamance County and should include the artist’s name, age (for minors, please include a parent/guardian’s name), phone number, email address, and city on the back of the submission. Each participant may submit one entry, and past winning submissions are not eligible.
Winners, one from each age group, will be selected by the Appearance Commission & Tree Board at their April 6 meeting. After the contest, all submitted artwork will be featured on the Arbor Day in Graham webpage. Special thanks to the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board and our local business partners for generously donating prizes for this contest.
Arbor Day Kindness Rock Hunt in Downtown Graham
Dates: April 1 – 30, 2026, or while prizes last (one prize awarded per rock)
For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Graham
About: Ready, set, go! The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board invites you to join the fun by searching for one of six Arbor Day themed rocks hidden throughout Downtown Graham. If you’re lucky enough to find a rock, bring it to the Graham Recreation Center during regular operating hours (311 College Street, Graham, NC 27253) to qualify for a prize. One winner per household. A special thank-you to the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board and our local business partners for generously donating prizes for the Kindness Rock Hunt.
Chill & Thrill: Park Pop-Up (THEME: Tree-mendous Bingo)
Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Time: 10:00am – 12:00noon
For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Graham Regional Park • 1575 North Jim Minor Road, Haw River, NC 27258
About: Graham Recreation & Parks is rolling into Graham Regional Park this spring and summer with our Park & Play Mobile Recreation Van! Stop by for sweet treats, upbeat music, yard games, and tons of fun themed activities for all ages.
As a special addition, we’re hosting Tree-mendous Bingo in celebration of Arbor Day in Graham in April! Bring a blanket, relax on the grass, and enjoy a classic game of Bingo while learning fun facts about trees, plus you’ll have a chance to win a tree sapling to take home. Tree saplings generously donated by New Leaf Society.
Don’t miss out on the fun – see you there! Follow us on Facebook for program updates and any weather-related changes. More information about the Park Pop-Ups
Leaves, Light & Lenses: Smartphone Photography in the Parks
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Ages: 18+ & up
Cost: $20 per person (Register Online)
Location: Bill Cooke Park • 1010 Townbranch Road, Graham, NC 27253 (meet at Shelter 2)
About: Graham Recreation & Parks invites nature enthusiasts to join us this April for a hands-on smartphone photography workshop as part of Arbor Day in Graham. Participants will learn simple tools and techniques and explore useful apps for capturing high-quality photos of trees, plants, and natural landscapes using their smartphones. This program encourages outdoor exploration while highlighting one of Graham’s newest ecoEXPLORE locations, helping participants document nature, sharpen observation skills, and build a deeper connection to the city’s natural spaces. No photography experience is required; just bring your fully-charged smartphone and curiosity. The class will be led by Elizabeth Larson of Elizabeth Larson Photography. Rain date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Arbor Day in Graham’s Tree Planting Ceremony
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Times: 10:00am – 11:00am, Tree Planting Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00am
Ages: For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Bill Cooke Park • 1010 Townbranch Road, Graham, NC 27253 (located by the playground, Shelter 1, & Field #3) (Rain Location: City Hall)
In Memory/Honor of: TBD
About: The City of Graham invites you to join in celebrating Arbor Day, a holiday dedicated to planting and caring for trees, with a special ceremonial tree planting. Hosted by the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board, in partnership with Graham Recreation & Parks and the City of Graham Public Works, this event marks the City’s continued commitment to urban forestry and community beautification. Come celebrate the City of Graham’s recognition as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA community and honor the spirit of Arbor Day. Special thanks to the Graham City Council, the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board, and the N.C. Forest Service for their support and participation in this meaningful event.
Can’t make it out for the Tree Planting Ceremony? You can also watch it on the City of Graham’s YouTube Channel.
For more information about the Arbor Day program & events, please call (336) 513-5510 or email Brandy McCandless, Marketing Supervisor.
Tree Resources
Tree Resources
See, Plant, Grow – Plant a Tree with Tim Covington, Property Maintenance Superintendent
Are you wanting to make a difference? Have you considered planting a tree? “Trees add value to your home, regulate the temperature of your neighborhood, and provide food for wildlife.” – Arbor Day Foundation. The City of Graham Public Works provides tips on planting trees with Property Maintenance Superintendent, Tim Covington. Arbor Day In Graham Plants a Tree with Tim Covington
Taking a Look Back at 2021: Arbor Day in Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
As the City of Graham celebrated 40 years as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA community in 2021, New Leaf Society President, Rett Davis, took us through Bill Cooke Park with a lesson on the importance of trees to our community. The drone footage was provided by Titania Productions. Arbor Day In Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
Additional Resources
A Tree Can Be
Benefits of Planting Trees & Tree Facts
Champion Tree of Alamance County
How to Plant Containerized Trees
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
Stop Crepe Murder with NC State Extension
Tree Planting: Introduction with NC State Extension
Tree Pruning: Introduction with NC State Extension
Local Resources
Have tree, landscaping, and gardening questions? The Alamance County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers (EMGVs) Info Line is open for questions! Call and speak to a Master Gardener on the Info Line at (336) 570-6740 or email (askanemgee@gmail.com) to ask your tree, landscaping, and gardening questions. Alamance County Cooperative Extension
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
Donating a tree is a great gift for the hard-to-buy-for person, or for someone who “has everything”. It is a great way to remember and honor someone who has passed away since it is a “living memorial”. Tree donation is a wonderful way to mark the birth of a child, celebrate an anniversary, to simply say “I love you”. It makes a great class project, a unique way for your club or group to make a contribution to the community or something to do for yourself. Whatever the reason, trees are vital to the well-being of our environment. They clean the air and keep the atmosphere in check. They give us shade, attract wildlife, and beautifully mark the seasons. Each donated tree will be marked with a 2” X 6” high-grade stainless steel tree marker with your personalized message. Each tree can be inscribed with up to 5 lines, with a maximum of 35 characters per line.
Cost: $150 per tree, includes a high-grade stainless steel tree marker featuring a maximum of 5 lines with up to 35 characters per line including spaces and hyphens (Message Space: 2” X 6”) • For more information or to print an order form, please visit the “Friends of Graham Recreation & Parks Community Volunteer Board” at https://www.cityofgraham.com/grpd-get-involved/.
What is Tree City USA?
The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees.
More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. They have achieved Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Learn more about Tree City USA at www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa.
FAQ's
A City’s Tree Board is responsible for hearing requests from residents regarding planting, maintenance and removal of street trees. It is also responsible for establishing guidelines for spacing of trees on the City’s property.
The Tree Board serves as an advisory board to the City Council as it relates to the planting, growth and protection of trees within the City.
Serving on a board and/or commission is an opportunity to collaborate with local government and to help shape decisions that impact our community. There are positions available on City of Graham boards and commissions as well as seats on Alamance County boards or commissions reserved for Graham residents or those living in Graham’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The position you are applying for will determine whether the appointment will be made by the Graham City Council or by the Alamance County Commissioners.
To submit an application (click here).
Tree Resources
See, Plant, Grow – Plant a Tree with Tim Covington, Property Maintenance Superintendent
Are you wanting to make a difference? Have you considered planting a tree? “Trees add value to your home, regulate the temperature of your neighborhood, and provide food for wildlife.” – Arbor Day Foundation. The City of Graham Public Works provides tips on planting trees with Property Maintenance Superintendent, Tim Covington. Arbor Day In Graham Plants a Tree with Tim Covington
Taking a Look Back at 2021: Arbor Day in Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
As the City of Graham celebrated 40 years as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA community in 2021, New Leaf Society President, Rett Davis, took us through Bill Cooke Park with a lesson on the importance of trees to our community. The drone footage was provided by Titania Productions. Arbor Day In Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
Additional Resources
A Tree Can Be
Benefits of Planting Trees & Tree Facts
Champion Tree of Alamance County
How to Plant Containerized Trees
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
Stop Crepe Murder with NC State Extension
Tree Planting: Introduction with NC State Extension
Tree Pruning: Introduction with NC State Extension
Local Resources
Have tree, landscaping, and gardening questions? The Alamance County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers (EMGVs) Info Line is open for questions! Call and speak to a Master Gardener on the Info Line at (336) 570-6740 or email to ask your tree, landscaping, and gardening questions. Alamance County Cooperative Extension