Arbor Day

Arbor Day 2026

Goshen Arbor Day Celebration returns May 1 as part of First Fridays

Goshen’s Arbor Day festivities return May 1 during the First Fridays Green Day Celebration, bringing tree-themed activities, live music and student performances to downtown.

The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Historic Elkhart County Courthouse lawn. Mayor Gina Leichty and the City’s Kids Council will take part in the evening’s programming, which highlights Goshen’s ongoing investment in urban forestry and environmental education.

Arbor Day Event Details

The City of Goshen will offer a range of activities for residents and visitors, including:

• Tree and T-shirt giveaways
• Tree-themed education and hands-on activities
• Face painting
• Food trucks and local vendors
• Live music by Zion Lion
• Student artwork displays
• Performances by local school choirs

Forestry and environmental resilience

The Arbor Day celebration focuses on environmental awareness and outdoor experiences in downtown Goshen.

The event reflects the City’s long-standing commitment to urban forestry. Goshen continues to plant and maintain trees across neighborhoods and public spaces. It also offers free trees to residents each year to support long-term canopy growth.

The Department of Environmental Resilience leads those efforts through tree planting, inventory management and public education programs. City officials said Arbor Day provides an opportunity to connect those initiatives with the community in a visible and accessible way.