Events

Celebración de los Árboles

Experience the diverse cultures of Latin America through music, dance, and food in the beautiful natural settings of The Morton Arboretum.

Content Detail

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Explore the vibrant cultures and traditions of Latin America in the beautiful natural settings of The Morton Arboretum at Celebración de los Árboles on Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Celebración de los Árboles honors the vibrant cultures of Mexico and Mesoamerica, where the Arboretum does important work to protect and conserve threatened trees and the ecosystems they support.

Tickets

Admission to Celebración de los Árboles is included with Arboretum general admission. Buy general admission online to save $2 per ticket and save time in line.

Purchase general admission for Saturday, September 27, or Sunday, September 28.

Highlights

The two-day cultural festival features traditional music, dance, food, and storytelling. See festival highlights and a full performance schedule closer to the event date.

Speak with Arboretum scientists to learn about important conservation work being done at The Morton Arboretum.

Tour The Morton Arboretum Herbarium to learn about how preserved Mexican oak specimens in the Herbarium’s collection help researchers around the world understand the evolution of oak trees.

Shop for handcrafted goods, art, and traditional foods during the festival from local artists and vendors.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Join The Morton Arboretum during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the cultures, histories, and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. From September 15 to October 15, experience a variety of special events and programs highlighting Latino, Latina, and Latinx communities as well as partners in the Arboretum’s important work to protect and conserve threatened trees and ecosystems in Latin America.

Science and Conservation

The Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program is helping scientists and local residents in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and Costa Rica conserve endangered oak species. Wherever trees need help or trees can help people—in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods or far away—The Morton Arboretum is The Champion of Trees.

 

Presented in partnership with

Highlights

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Performances

Throughout the weekend, guests will enjoy music, dance, food, and storytelling. Highlighted performers include:

Guitarra Azul
Dance to fiery Spanish guitars and Latin percussion.

Los Perros Cubanos
Experience a vibrant blend of traditional Cuban music with Latin, jazz, blues, rock, and country influences.

Mariachi Estrellas de Chicago
Listen to traditional mariachi repertoire and popular radio songs performed by young, classically trained musicians from Chicago’s South Side.

Mariachi Sirenas
Celebrate la música regional mexicana with Chicago’s first all-women mariachi group.

Trio de Colores
Explore new perspectives on traditional and classical music styles from a trio of boundary-pushing percussionists.

A full performance schedule will be available soon.

Artisan Vendors

Purchase handcrafted goods, art, and traditional foods—such as tamales, conchas, paletas, empanadas, and aguas frescas—from more than a dozen local artists and vendors.

Highlights include authentic Argentinian alfajores from Lucila’s Alfajores and traditional Mexican cuisine from La Cocina de Maria Food Truck.

A full list of artisan vendors will be available soon.

Meet a Scientist

Speak with scientists from The Morton Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program on Saturday, September 27 to learn about the important tree science and conservation work being done by researchers at the Arboretum, in Latin American countries, and in biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Tree Talks

Listen to tree conservation researchers from Mexico, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and the United States present their work on Saturday, September 27. Both talks are free and open to the public.

Talks take place in the Cudahy room, located in the Research and Administration Building on the Arboretum’s East Side.

10:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.

Herbarium Tours

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Morton Arboretum Herbarium collects and preserves Mexican oak species and other plant specimens from around the world.

Herbarium tours are free with advance registration. Register for an Herbarium tour.

The tour group meets at the reception desk in the lobby of the Administration and Research Center at the following times. Each tour lasts approximately one hour.

11:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m.

Spanish-Language Tram Tours

Experience the beauty and wonder of the Arboretum on a guided tram tour aboard the Acorn Express. Narrated in Spanish, these one-hour rides take you on an adventure through woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Spanish-language tram tours will focus on storytelling and the cultural relevance of the Arboretum’s landscape.

Tram tickets must be purchased at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center on the day of your visit.

Tickets

Infant (3 and younger): Free
Child or adult (4 and older): $5
Member cost: $3

Schedule

Saturday, September 27, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Performance Schedule

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A performance schedule will be available closer to the event date, but currently includes:

Guitarra Azul
Dance to fiery Spanish guitars and Latin percussion.

Los Perros Cubanos
Experience a vibrant blend of traditional Cuban music with Latin, jazz, blues, rock, and country influences.

Mariachi Estrellas de Chicago
Listen to traditional mariachi repertoire and popular radio songs performed by young, classically trained musicians from Chicago’s South Side.

Mariachi Sirenas
Celebrate la música regional mexicana with Chicago’s first all-women mariachi group.

Trio de Colores
Explore new perspectives on traditional and classical music styles from a trio of boundary-pushing percussionists.

Community Partners

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The Morton Arboretum is proud to support and partner with a wide range of local organizations across the Chicago region. They work with the Arboretum to inform and improve its offerings as well as to co-create programming and initiatives that increase access to its beautiful landscape, education, and other activities.

DuPage Hispanic Alliance

Celebracion de los Árboles is presented in partnership with DuPage Hispanic Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes the rich Hispanic culture throughout DuPage county and the surrounding areas. A cultural, civic, and community network, the organization works to Unite Latinos and non-Latinos in preserving and promoting the richness in diversity of the Latin American heritage through educational, cultural, and civic activities.

DVSA Communities

DVSA Communities is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Illinois with a mission to provide culturally specific victim services to assist families in finding protection, living without fear, and addressing their needs to ensure their safety and well-being.

Metropolitan Family Services

Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, Metropolitan Family Services has been empowering Chicago-area families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities since 1857.

National Youth Advocate Program

National Youth Advocate Program provides holistic services and tailored treatment to help children, youth, and families achieve stability.

Science and Conservation

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Science is the foundation of The Morton Arboretum’s work for trees. Learn how Arboretum researchers conduct on-the-ground tree conservation action projects with local partners in Mexico and Mesoamerica to benefit ecosystems while supporting local communities.

Global Tree Conservation Program

Working around the world, the Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program is dedicated to safeguarding tree species in biodiversity hotspots like Mesoamerica through global collaborations. Arboretum staff lead integrated, science-based conservation action projects that support sustainable livelihoods and respect local cultures and traditional knowledge.

Conservation Gap Analysis of Native Mesoamerican Oaks

Recently published in 2025, The Arboretum’s Conservation Gap Analysis of Native Mesoamerican Oaks was a landmark report that identified key concerns and areas of opportunity for conserving threatened oak species. The report is available in both English and Spanish.

Chicago Region Trees Initiative

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative is The Morton Arboretum’s urban and community forestry program, working to improve people’s lives by supporting the health, diversity, and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois.

Opportunities in Science

The Arboretum’s Center for Tree Science offers many opportunities for students and young people to get involved in tree conservation and STEM. Learn more about youth volunteer opportunities and the Arboretum’s Integrated Mentorship Program.

Become a Member

When a trip to the Arboretum inspires you to explore more, become a member to visit again and again.

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