Tours will meet at the ArborFest HQ tent

Ever looked at a tree and wondered just what sort of tree it might be? Join Mort Schmidt, tree expert and genus genius. Mort will take you around the Park of Roses Arboretum where you’ll learn the basics of tree identification. You’ll quickly learn that nature hates being categorized.

One of the most unique ecosystems in the city is growing alongside Olentangy Trail. Explore the paths of Whetstone Prairie with the Columbus Recreation and Parks experts who manage it. Learn all about that beautiful native plants and insects of this Midwestern marvel!

It’s the most fun way to get around town! Join Johnny Velo Bikes as they explain the features and benefits of electric bikes. Test ride a variety of brands and find the one that is right for you. You’ll be zipping along Columbus’ expanding network of trails in no time!

Crawl down to Adena Brook with Kori Sedmak. She’ll introduce you to some of the cool creatures who call the brook their home. There are fish, amphibians, and invertebrates waiting to make your acquaintance!

Big summer storms have been rolling through Columbus, dropping buckets of water on our city. Join Blueprint Columbus to learn how they stop these storms from overwhelming our wastewater sewers.

Actual electric vehicle owners with Drive Electric Columbus will be showing off and answering questions about their cars. Stop by if you want to learn EV ownership or just nerd out about cool cars!

Rock out with local bands 6 Feet Apart and Sandhammer playing a mix of original songs and classics spanning the decades.

Pick up native plants sold by local growers Natives in Harmony and Leaves for Wildlife

Talks will meet inside the Park of Roses shelter house. Tours and demos will meet on the west patio.

Joey Jaros has been tearing out invasive species and turning them into tasty jams! Try some for yourself while Joey takes you through their PHD research into how native ecosystems react and evolve in response to invasive species.

Watch and learn as Russell Tree Experts take you step-by-step through the best way to prune a tree. This will be a hands-on demonstration using an actual tree! See how you can shape and maintain the trees in your own yard.

Walk through the Columbus Park of Roses with the Park of Roses Foundation. The park is not only home to a dizzying number of rose varieties, but it also contains native, herb, and perennial gardens and a level 2 arboretum. Gain a greater appreciation for one of best parks in Columbus!

Columbus has committed to nearly doubling tree canopy coverage by 2050! This is a challenging goal that will require help from the whole community. Shelly Douglas of Green Columbus and city forester Chad Hoff will discuss city’s the urban forestry master plan at the annual tree summit. Find out why canopy coverage is so important and how you can help! The summit will be followed by a ceremony where city foresters will demonstrate best practices for planting a new tree.

Discover Bats Ohio is here so you can discover Ohio bats! These fluffy flying creatures are often overlooked, but play an important role in our local ecosystem. Learn about the challenges facing these quiet heroes of the night sky.

PHD botanist Simon Power will be discussing how our local forests are evolving in response to pressure from invasive species and climate change.

Poets and visual artists have paired up to create original works of tree-inspired poetry and paintings. They then traded their works and created new poems and paintings inspired by their fellow artists! The exhibit will be on display throughout the festival in the shelter house.

Can you spot all 25 squirrel doors? They are scattered throughout trees growing in the Park of Roses. Each door was made by a different artist and put up by the Clintonville Arts Guild

Children’s activities will meet at the Family Area tent

Settle under the canopy and enjoy children’s story time with librarians from Whetstone Library! The librarians will be reading from a selection of nature-themed children’s books.

Join Susann Moeller and crew in taking nets to the Olentangy where you’ll scoop up and help identify what’s living in Columbus’ primary river. Get up and close with aquatic animals large and small!

Grab a crayon and collect impressions of bark in the park! Franklin Park Conservatory will guide children as they learn about trees and create art to tell them apart.

Hoot, trill, and chirp with Jared the Nature Guy! Jared will be showing you how birds talk to each other. You just might learn how to join the conversation.

Kids are always growing and so is the prairie! Children can plant their very own native perennial plants in a special section of the Whetstone Prairie with the help of Columbus Recreation and Parks ecology experts.

Stretch out in the shade with Give Yoga. They will be leading a session right at the start of the festival! Look for them rolling out the mats west of the food trucks.

Five different Columbus artists will be creating sculptures and performing as part of an exhibition titled We are Part of Something Bigger. The exhibition will be located east of the family area.