FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The city of Fairhope is encouraging residents of all ages to attend the Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will take place at Dahlgren and Centennial halls on the Fairhope campus of Faulkner State Community College. Fairhope’s Arbor Day is free of charge and serves to educate residents about the benefits of trees as part of the world-recognized Arbor Day holiday.

According to Tom Ellis, chairman of the city’s Tree Commission, the day will feature vendors with an assortment of garden and yard supplies, tree service demonstrations and the ever popular trees seedling giveaway.

“Beau Brodbeck, a forester and county extension agent from the Baldwin County Extension office, will present a workshop on protecting trees during construction and about the best trees to use for different landscaping projects,” Ellis said.

The workshop will begin at 11 a.m. in one of the classroom adjacent to Centennial Hall. The Fairhope Public Library will also have a display of books on trees and landscaping during the week leading up to Arbor Day.

As part of the municipality’s Centennial celebration, the city has committed to planting more than 100 long-lived trees. During the current winter-spring planting season, trees will be planted in prominent locations such as parks and on other public land. The Fairhope Tree Committee and the Fairhope Horticulture Department are leading the project.

Sponsored trees may be purchased for $50 and will be marked with a special centennial medallion. Checks should be made payable to the City of Fairhope Tree Fund and mailed to P.O. Drawer 429, Fairhope, AL 36533, and Attn: Jennifer Fidler. Applications to sponsor a tree are available at the Fairhope Public Library, City Hall, the James P. Nix Center, the City Warehouse and Quail Creek Golf Course.

“The city is dedicated to keeping the Fairhope a clean and beautiful place to live. That is why it is so important to show residents how important trees are to our community and to give them the knowledge they need to care for their environment,” said Mayor Tim Kant.

The following individuals/businesses will receive beautification awards during the awards ceremony at 9 a.m.: Wanda and Mike Dobson, John Bethae, Fairhope Single Tax Corp., Thomas Hospital, Summer Lake subdivision, Pelican Square and Banktrust Bank.

Members of Baldwin County Master Gardeners and the Wisteria Garden Club will assist with the tree seedling giveaway at 10 a.m. Arthur Bosarge, assistant Public Works director, said the tree seedling giveaway would focus on native species.

“Our Arbor Day trees this year include Atlantic white cedar, spruce pine, black gum, swamp chestnut, Dahoon holly, American hornbeam, fringe tree and long leaf pine.”

To celebrate Arbor Day, Fifth grade students from Fairhope Intermediate School and J. Larry Newton participated in an Arbor Day Poster contest. Students were encouraged to design an original poster depicting the 2008 contest theme: Trees are Terrific … inside and out.

For more information about Fairhope’s Arbor Day Festivities call 929-1466.