City of Rockport Arbor Day Week Proclamation

Arbor Day has always been a time to appreciate and celebrate the beauty of trees, and in Rockport, Texas, this tradition is taking on a whole new level of excitement. Starting this year, Arbor Day celebrations will be extended throughout the week, from November 3rd to November 11th, creating Arbor Day Week. The Rockport Arbor Day Festival is all set to kick off the festivities on Friday, November 3rd at the picturesque Magnolia Park.

This year’s event promises an evening filled with great food, live music, games, and, most importantly, a chance to immerse yourself in the history under the majestic heritage live oaks at Magnolia Park. The celebration will bring together the community, with representatives from Aransas County, the City of Rockport, the Town of Fulton, and the Aransas County Navigation District planting a tree during the kickoff event to signify their unity in preserving and protecting Aransas County’s live oak trees.

The highlight of this year’s Arbor Day celebration is the naming of the inaugural historic street tree in honor of a local resident who has been a dedicated steward of nature in Aransas County for many years. The schedule for the kickoff event on November 3rd is as follows:

5:30 p.m. – Opening ceremony with Rockport Mayor Tim Jayroe
5:45 p.m. – Speeches highlighting the importance of our trees by AgriLife Extension, Aransas First Land Trust, CCA, and Flatsworthy
6:00 p.m. – Naming of the historic street tree by Pam Stranahan of the History Center for Aransas County
6:30 p.m. – Planting of four live oak trees, one by each of the representatives from Aransas County, the City of Rockport, the Town of Fulton, and the Aransas County Navigation District
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Enjoy live music, delicious food, and entertaining activities
(Note: The City of Rockport proudly partners with the Arbor Day Foundation, and this event is made possible through their collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and FedEx.)

Arbor Day in the District (Saturday, November 11)

On November 11, the celebration continues with Arbor Day in the District, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event is a perfect blend of the Rockport Cultural Arts District’s (RCAD) Second Saturday and the Rockport Center for the Arts’ Art Walk. The historic downtown area of Rockport will be transformed into a tree-themed wonderland.

Attendees can look forward to live music, delectable food from food trucks, captivating art demonstrations, inspiring art exhibits, and educational displays about our native live oak trees. This event will also unveil the new RCAD and Aransas First Land Trust windswept oak mural, host a doggie hair dyeing competition, and provide a kids’ corner with tree-themed crafts.

Tree Planting Throughout the Week

Arbor Day Week wouldn’t be complete without the planting of live oak trees. The City of Rockport Tree Committee, in collaboration with the Rockport Parks & Leisure Services Department and other partners, plans to plant 63 live oak trees throughout the county between November 3 and November 11.

The Fulton Volunteer Fire Department will escort the live oak trees through the Rockport Cultural Arts District (downtown Rockport) on October 31st at 9 a.m. The trees will find their new homes at various locations, including Magnolia Park, Bent Oaks Rookery, McDonalds Park, Tiger Field, and more. These plantings are a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving the natural beauty of Aransas County.

Proclamation: Honoring Arbor Day’s Legacy

The Arbor Day celebrations in Rockport pay tribute to a tradition that dates back to 1872 when J. Sterling Morton proposed the idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture. Since then, Arbor Day has been observed nationwide and around the world. Texas joined in this tradition in 1889, under the leadership of the Texas Forestry Association.

Arbor Day is not just a day of celebration; it’s also an opportunity to teach important lessons about the stewardship of our natural resources and the role each of us can play in keeping our community trees healthy and vibrant. It’s a time to pause and appreciate the valuable place that trees hold in our lives.

This year’s Arbor Day celebrations hold special significance as they continue the recovery efforts from the extensive tree loss caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The dedication to replanting trees and preserving the natural beauty of Aransas County shines through in this year’s extended Arbor Day festivities.

Join us in celebrating Arbor Day Week, a special tribute to the beloved live oaks that grace our community, and a testament to our commitment to their preservation.