HICKORY — The City of Hickory and the Community Appearance Commission will mark Earth Day and Arbor Day at the fifth annual Green Fest during the Hickory Farmers Market on Saturday, April 25, the city said April 6, 2026.
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the city invited residents to its booths for free potted trees—white flowering dogwood, Washington hawthorn, sourwood, thornless honey locust, and golden raintree—plus free milkweed seeds for monarchs, vegetable and herb seeds, plant starts, other giveaways, and environmental information.
CAC members and city departments will cover solid waste and recycling, tree and landscape maintenance, plant propagation, stormwater, and litter. Visitors can take the Hickory Litter Quitter pledge, sign up for monthly e-newsletters, and enter to win a native plant for spring landscaping.
Wilson Elliott, CAC liaison and city planner, said the commission is “happy to share potted trees and milkweed seed packets with local residents in our continued efforts to promote tree planting, biodiversity, and preservation throughout the Hickory community.”
The city said trees, planted and kept, can improve a neighborhood’s look, raise property values, cut cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat. Native milkweed supports monarchs and beneficial insects that help with aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and stink bugs.
Green Fest and the Farmers Market are under The Sails on the Square. More is at www.hickorync.gov.
The April 6 notice does not list a tree-giveaway limit, a rain plan, or a required ID to pick up a tree.
Official release from City of Hickory, April 6, 2026. https://www.hickorync.gov/green-fest
