Celebrating nature and community

Pam Cameron of Ocala, left, gets a free wax myrtle from Anthony Santangelo, the vegetation manager for Ocala Electric Utility, right, during the Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day festival at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, April 25, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

Arbor Day is a national holiday that recognizes the importance of trees. National Arbor Day this year was recognized on April 24, but many towns and cities observed it on a different day, including the city of Ocala, which celebrated on April 25.

And what better setting in which to honor the beauty and importance of trees than in Tuscawilla Park, which is graced by grandaddy oaks and other gorgeous specimens.

The Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day event included tree giveaways, youth fishing, a rock-climbing wall, tree climbing, a Scales Tails and Teeth wildlife show, vendors, music and food trucks.

Ocala Recreation and Parks noted on its Facebook page that, “it was a fun-filled day for all ages. We also loved seeing the community take home free trees and plants during our giveaway, helping us all grow a greener Ocala together.”

The site also stated that the winners of the Youth Fishing Derby were:

* Ryan Pullings – biggest and most fish, ages 11 – 13

* Keneth Hendrick III – biggest fish, ages 7-10

* Naomi Platt – most fish, ages 7-10

* Grayson Brown -most fish, ages 4-6

* Cody Dobbs – biggest fish, ages 4-6

The day included a Mayor’s Spring Clean-Up component, in which Mayor Ben Marciano and a host of volunteers spread out across Ocala, “dedicating their time to picking up litter and making our neighborhoods cleaner and more beautiful,” according to the online recap.

To learn more about the annual event, visit ocalafl.gov/government/city-departments-i-z/recreation-parks/events/earthfest

Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day

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