Hickory’s Green Fest Promotes Environmental Stewardship and Community Engagement

HICKORY, N.C. — The City of Hickory and the Community Appearance Commission (CAC) invite residents to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day at the fourth annual Green Fest, taking place on Saturday, April 26, at the Downtown Hickory Farmers Market.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., community members can visit the City of Hickory’s booths to receive free potted trees, including varieties like white dogwood, sourwood, sassafras, and black gum. In addition, attendees can obtain free milkweed seeds to attract endangered monarch butterflies, vegetable and flower seeds, and potted indoor plant starts, along with various giveaways and resources on environmental stewardship.

Representatives from the CAC and various city departments will be available to provide crucial information regarding solid waste collection, recycling, tree and landscape maintenance, plant propagation, stormwater management, and litter reduction efforts.

“It’s essential to engage the community in our environmental efforts,” said a CAC spokesperson. “Green Fest is an opportunity for residents to learn about sustainable practices and take active steps in preserving our natural habitat.”

Attendees stopping by the City of Hickory booths will also have the chance to pledge against littering through the Hickory Litter Quitter program, sign up for monthly city e-newsletters, and win a native plant to enhance their spring landscaping.

Trees play a vital role in elevating community life when properly planted and cared for. They enhance neighborhood aesthetics, bolster property values, reduce household cooling costs, mitigate air pollution, and provide habitats for wildlife, according to city officials. Similarly, the native milkweed plants are crucial for supporting biodiversity, particularly the endangered monarch butterfly population, by attracting beneficial insects that naturally control pest species.

Green Fest will unfold beneath “The Sails on the Square” in downtown Hickory. For additional information about the Community Appearance Commission and various city initiatives, residents are encouraged to visit the city’s official website.