The Connecticut Tree Festival is back Saturday, May 16 with its two popular rides to the tree-tops of Cranbury Park for kids.
Hosted by Norwalk and Wilton, the family-oriented festival unfolds rain or shine against a backdrop of the U.S. Arbor Day Foundation’s selection again of Norwalk and Wilton as Tree Cities USA. Admission is free and so is parking and a picnic lunch.
Only 18 of Connecticut’s 169 communities qualified as a Tree City USA, essentially recognizing an uncommon commitment to preserving the urban tree canopy and celebrating Arbor Day.
One of the rides is the junior arborist tree-climb conducted under the direction of Mike Almstead of Almstead Tree & Shrub Care, conveying children to the leafy heights of a maple tree, securely suspended in a two-pulley harness and wearing a helmet.
At the same time a cherry-picker provided by The Care of Trees under the direction of Rich Whitehead carries the kids in an arc across the Great Lawn in the park, strapped into the bucket and accompanied by a supervisor.
The day showcases a diverse lineup of ecologically-oriented exhibitors encircled by hands-on demonstrations by experts in tree-planting and care, face-painting and crafts. A Flowering Tree Photo Contest sponsored by the Norwalk Tree Alliance has been expanded to provide for a special prize category for images taken by children 12-years-old and younger, with photos displayed at the festival.
The festival will also showcase a gallery showing of painting, sculpture and mixed media for the second consecutive year, with artworks to be displayed in the Gallaher Mansion and on the terrace in the park. The exhibit, called “A Celebration of Trees,” features the work of younger artists.
Cranberry Park is located at 300 Grumman Ave., Norwalk.