Arbor Day Celebration in Nebraska City

Arbor Day was born in Nebraska City. Newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday in 1872, and the first Arbor Day was celebrated that April. The town still marks the holiday with a weekend festival every spring, and the Arbor Day Foundation runs Arbor Day Farm here.

The celebration spreads across several sites: Arbor Lodge, the Morton family's mansion and arboretum; Arbor Day Farm and its Tree Adventure; Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard; and Wildwood Historic Center. The 2026 weekend included a downtown Arbor Day parade, a car show, a children's entrepreneur market and a historical play day, with an America 250 theme.

Nebraska City is a pleasant day trip south of Omaha (roughly an hour's drive, an estimate) along the Missouri River, and spring is a lovely time to go, with orchards and lilacs in bloom.

Highlights

• Arbor Day parade in downtown Nebraska City
• Arbor Lodge mansion and arboretum
• Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure activities
• Orchard visits at Kimmel Orchard
• History of the holiday in the town where it started

Tips for going

• Plan a full day; the events are spread across several sites around town.
• Lied Lodge at Arbor Day Farm is the main overnight option if you want to stay.
• Check nebraskacity.com for the current schedule before driving down.
• Combine with a fall visit for the AppleJack Festival if you love the area.