Enjoy programming all week long, guided hikes, free admission days, ceremonial tree plantings and more!

March 26, 2026 (CLEVELAND) – Celebrate all things trees in honor of Arbor Day at Holden Forests & Gardens. The Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum celebrate the planting and care of trees every day of the year, but especially during April when spring is in the air. Join us in celebration with free admission, tours, seedlings and more!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS

“Last year’s Arbor Day celebrations across both campuses were truly special, bringing our community together in such a joyful and meaningful way,” said Ed Moydell, President and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “We love sharing this day with our community and look forward to welcoming everyone back for a variety of activities, expert-led tours, and hands-on experiences at both campuses. Let’s come together to celebrate trees, nature, and the impact we can make when we work as a community.”

FREE ADMISSION – Holden Forests & Gardens is offering free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Friday, April 24 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and free admission to the Holden Arboretum on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bring family, friends, or just yourself to enjoy a day immersed in nature at either campus. Advance tickets are not required.

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN COMMUNITY DAY – FRIDAY APRIL 24 

Join us for a day of environmental awareness, community engagement, and fun activities in celebration of Arbor Day on Friday, April 24 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.! Enjoy FREE admission, giveaways, music, garden tours and more. HF&G will also hold a community resource fair from noon – 5 p.m. featuring organizations including Cleveland Public Library, Therapy Art Studio, City Fresh and more. Other programming includes Power of Plants, children’s tree climbing and crafts, which will take place at select times throughout the day. Visit holdenfg.org for a full schedule of events. 

HOLDEN ARBORETUM OPEN HOUSE – SATURDAY APRIL 25 

Immerse yourself in a day of nature exploration, entertainment, and community fun at the Arboretum Open House, with activities running from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.! Join us for FREE admission, a seedling giveaway, crafts, drop-in guided tours, and talk with our staff experts. This celebration will see the return of tram tours, running throughout the day (tickets can be purchased at Corning Visitor Center). Guests can also enjoy live music by Jul Big Green and food trucks while exploring the beauty of the Arboretum.

SEEDLING GIVEAWAY – American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis is an adaptable, native Ohio shrub. Its flowers attract many beneficial pollinators, and its fruit is favored by numerous songbirds. Holden Forests & Gardens will give away 400 seedlings at each campus, one seedling per household. The seedling giveaway at Cleveland Botanical Garden will take place on Friday, April 24 beginning at 10 a.m. and continue as supplies last. The Holden Arboretum seedling giveaway on Saturday, April 25 will begin at 9 a.m. and continue as supplies last.

Arbor Week Sneak Peek Tours:

Join us for a series of special opportunities to peek behind the scenes and engage with our plant and animal experts. Each tour will feature mission-related work through the lens of research, conservation, and stewardship. Learning something new is the perfect way to celebrate the lead up to Arbor Day! Free; registration required.

• Long Science Center & Holden Seed Bank Tour: Tuesday, April 21 from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Get an exclusive look at the labs and workspaces where our scientists are pioneering breakthroughs in plant science, then head across the lot to see our Seed Bank and hear updates about how Holden’s seed saving work contributes to local restoration projects. Location: Holden Arboretum. Meet at Long Science Center
• Long-Term Forest Research Tour: Wednesday, April 22 from 1 – 3 p.m. Hike Bole Woods with Dr. Katie Stuble and learn how HF&G scientists study biodiversity threats like agricultural land use history, invasive species, and deer herbivory to better understand their effects on the forest. (Terrain: 1.5 miles, mostly flat, natural surface trails, some grass, expect muddy conditions) Location: Holden Arboretum. Meet at Long Science Center
• Behind-the-Scenes Animal Care Tour: Thursday, April 23 from11 a.m. – noon | 1 – 2 p.m. Join our animal care team at Cleveland Botanical Garden to learn what it’s like to care for the critters that call our biomes home, from tortoises to chameleons to butterflies. Location: Cleveland Botanical Garden

ARBOR DAY OF GIVING– Put the love of trees into action! Holden Forests & Gardens’ annual Arbor Day of Giving helps strengthen our community’s engagement with the groundbreaking science and conservation work that is saving our native trees and building a healthier environment. Our annual giving campaign supports greater understanding and care for the environment that sustains us, from neighborhood greenery to our region’s oldest forests. Thanks to the generosity of fellow Tree Champions, every gift this Arbor Day will be matched, up to $20,000! Twice the care, twice the community impact. Arbor Day of Giving Information.

TREE PLANTING: Join Holden Forests & Gardens for ceremonial tree plantings on Friday, April 24 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Saturday, April 25 at the Holden Arboretum. Come by and learn more about the trees, where they came from, and why we chose them.

• At the Cleveland Botanical Garden, a member of our leadership team will plant Magnolia acuminata, Yellow Cucumber Tree magnolia, at 2:30 p.m. in the Gateway Garden at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
• At the Holden Arboretum, Ethan Johnson, Plant Records Curator, will provide remarks and go in-depth about the newly planted Red Maple (Burgundy Bell), at noon at the peninsula on Lotus Pond.

About Holden Forests & Gardens
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. One of the largest public gardens in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 20,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 300,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. Holden’s science, conservation and urban forestry work is widely acclaimed and helping to save native trees in the Great Lakes region and beyond. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.

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