Cambridge Celebrates Arbor Week May 4-8

The Cambridge Department of Public Works invites you to celebrate Arbor Week May 4-8, featuring activities, information and giveaways that promote the City's Urban Forest.

To help celebrate Arbor Week, Public Works is creating a Notable Trees StoryMap and we invite you to help shape it. Share a description, poem, love letter, or other reflection about your favorite City tree. Please include a photo!  What is your favorite City tree? Maybe it’s a rare species, a tree of exceptional size, or a familiar neighborhood tree that brings you joy in every season. We want to hear about the trees that Cambridge residents love! Selected submissions will be featured in an online interactive StoryMap highlighting notable trees across Cambridge, including each tree’s location and photo (if provided). Looking for inspiration? Check out Public Works’ collection of forestry maps including the Urban Forestry team’s favorite trees! Submissions are due by Wednesday April 15, 2026 to cambridgetrees@cambridgema.gov

Join us for the following activities!  All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, May 4 – Visit Joan Lorentz Park outside of the Main Library to read up on tree fun facts that will be featured around the park!

Tuesday, May 5 - City Arborist Dave Lefcourt will be tabling outside City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Come learn about the urban forest and get a free seedling along with coloring book and crayon giveaways and more!

Wednesday, May 6 - There will be a commemorative tree planting with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Arborist Dave Lefcourt at one of Cambridge's elementary schools.

Join City Arborist Dave Lefcourt for a neighborhood tree walk from the Tobin Montessori School to Danehy Park at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested should meet in front of the Tobin Montessori School, 181 Vassal Lane. Look for the Urban Forestry feather banner flag for the meeting point! The walking route is approximately 1 mile.

Thursday, May 7 - Arbor Week Celebration at the Main Library. The Department of Public Works Urban Forestry Division will be outside the Main Library from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Members of the community are invited to come learn about Cambridge’s Urban Forest. Staff will be giving away free seedlings, coloring books, crayons and more!

Librarians will be leading an Arbor Week theme Toddler Time at 11 a.m., reading a tree-themed book to children outside the library.

Stay tuned - more fun activities are planned!

Friday, May 8 - There will be a commemorative tree planting with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Arborist Dave Lefcourt at one of Cambridge's city buildings.

If you can't attend these events, but still want to get involved, become a Cambridge Urban Forest Friend! Forest Friends take simple steps to help care for and protect Cambridge's urban forest. By helping plant, water, and advocate for the trees, volunteers help the forest thrive into the future. Forest Friends contribute to the vitality of our urban forest, protect our planet, and make our city a better place to live.