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NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) \u2014 Normal<\/a>\u2018s Parks & Recreation Department will recognize Arbor Day<\/a> with multiple activities over two days.<\/p>\n The activities start on Friday, April 24, said town spokeswoman Wendy Long. At 9 a.m., Park Maintenance Supervisor Tyler Bain will speak to fifth-grade students from Sugar Creek Elementary School about the importance of trees and how the town cares for them.<\/p>\n After the presentation, students in classrooms taught by Jen Lanham and Sierra Tellor will help plant a Tulip tree and a Shagbark Hickory at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.<\/p>\n The Arbor Day activities continue at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 25, with a free showing of The Lorax (2012) at the Normal Theater. Tickets are available through the Normal Theater website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The movie is presented in collaboration with the Bloomington-Normal Arbor Day Affiliates, Normal, the city of Bloomington, Illinois State University, Westminster Village and Heartland Community College.<\/p>\n Long said that while supplies last, attendees will receive one free tree sapling. They will be able to get either a young persimmon or a red osier dogwood, along with planting and care information.<\/p>\n Following the movie, the Parks and Recreation department will hold a community tree planting at Anderson Park. Those wanting to attend the planting can follow the Lorax-themed trees to the locations.<\/p>\n Additional Arbor Day activities will take place throughout the community, including Illinois Art Station\u2019s Fourth Free Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Children\u2019s Discovery Museum programming.<\/p>\n Long said the town received the Tree City USA<\/a> designation by the Arbor Day Foundation<\/a> for the 27th consecutive year.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n