The City of St. Augustine’s 42nd Annual Arbor Day Ceremony will take place at 10:00am on Friday, January 17, 2025, in the Plaza de la Constitución, located in the heart of the Downtown Historic District.
The ceremony includes remarks by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Street Tree Advisory Committee (STAC) Chair, Fremont Latimer, planting one large Oak tree by city officials, a singing performance by Cathedral Parish School’s fifth grade students, and the city’s then-newly selected Poet Laureate is expected to read a poem as their first official duty.
This year marks the City’s designation as a Tree City USA for 42 years in a row.
Parking for those who wish to attend the ceremony in person will be available free of charge at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility, located at 1 Cordova Street, adjacent to the Visitor Information Center, from 9:00am – 11:00am. When entering the parking garage, notify the gate attendant that you are attending the Arbor Day Ceremony.
The STAR Circulator will operate starting at 9:00am to provide attendees complementary shuttle service to the Plaza from the Visitor Information Center. The shuttle will drop-off riders at the bus stop located near the Plaza and will be available during its regularly scheduled route for return transportation following the ceremony.
Free tree saplings will be distributed at the ceremony in the Plaza, as well from 10:00am to 2:00pm, while supplies last, via the 25 W. Castillo Drive drive-through lane, located on the north side of Francis Field. City staff will be giving away Sweet Bay Magnolia, Chickasaw Plum, Loblolly Pine, and Red Cedar saplings.
Questions and media inquiries may be directed to Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, via email at mwissel@citystaug.com or by calling 904.293.3307.