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.

Lea en español.

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 28, and Sunday, September 29, 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.

Enjoy music, dance, food, storytelling, and other cultural performances that celebrate Hispanic heritage in a weekend-long festival held amid the tree-filled landscapes of The Morton Arboretum.

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.

Ticket Details

Admission to Celebración de los Árboles is included with Arboretum general admission.

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.

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Saturday, September 28

9:30 a.m.
Bilingual Bird Hike presented by Chicago BIPOC Birders*, Location 4

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, Location 2

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Mariachi Estrellas de Chicago, Location 1

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Teotlecuilli Aztec Dance Group, Location 2

11:00 a.m.
Bilingual Bird Hike presented by Chicago BIPOC Birders*, Location 4

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Guitarra Azul, Location 4

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mariachi Los Pumas, Location 2

Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Jose Valdes and the Mambo All Stars, Location 1

1:30 p.m.
Nature Hike presented by Latino Outdoors**, Location 4

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Mariachi Sirenas, Location 2

1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Tree Science Field Station Tours, Location 6
Limited availability; sign up by 1:00 p.m. at Global Tree Conservation table (Location 4)

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Trio Latino, Location 1

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance, Location 2

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Ballet Folklorico Xochipitzahuatl, Location 1

Sunday, September 29

9:30 a.m.
Bilingual Bird Hike presented by Chicago BIPOC Birders,* Location 4

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Trio de Colores, Location 1

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance, Location 2

11:00 a.m.
Bilingual Bird Hike presented by Chicago BIPOC Birders,* Location 4

11:00 a.m. to noon
Tropicante, Location 1

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Trabuco Salsa Band, Location 2

Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Guitarra Azul, Location 1

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Ballet Folklorico, Tonantzin Nueva Generación, Location 2

1:30 p.m.
Nature Hike presented by Latino Outdoors,** Location 4

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Super Stolie Bilingual Kids Concert!, Location 2

1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Tree Science Field Station Tours, Location 6
Limited availability; sign up by 1:00 p.m. at Global Tree Conservation table (Location 4)

2:00 p.m.
Bilingual Bird Hike presented by Chicago BIPOC Birders,* Location 4

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Salsa and Bachata Lessons with Itza Riedas and May I Have This Dance, Location 1

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Ballet Folklorico Xochipitzahuatl, Location 2

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Los Perros Cubanos, Location 1

* Bird hikes will be about 1.5 hours in length and cover anywhere from 1 to 1.5 miles, depending on how quickly the group moves and the quantity of birds being seen. Hikes will leave from the Chicago BIPOC Birders table, located at Meadow Lake Point (Location 4 on the map).

** Hikes hosted by Latino Outdoors will be about 2 hours in length and cover around 3.5 miles. Hikes will leave from the Latino Outdoors table, located at Meadow Lake Point (Location 4 on the map).

Event Highlights

Lea en español.

The Celebración de los Árboles festival showcases traditional and contemporary aspects of Hispanic and Latin American culture from a number of different countries and traditions.

Enjoy music, dance, food, storytelling, and other cultural performances that celebrate Hispanic heritage in a weekend-long festival held amid the tree-filled landscapes of The Morton Arboretum.

Bilingual Tram Tours

Ride the Acorn Express tram on a one-hour narrated tour in Spanish and English that carries you through woodlands, wetlands, and prairies of The Morton Arboretum. Purchase tickets at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center on the day of your visit.

Bilingual Bird Walks

Join Chicago BIPOC Birders for a free bilingual bird walk! Walks will take place on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. Sign up at the Chicago BIPOC Birders table.

Guided Hikes

Join Latino Outdoors for free guided hikes on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Sign up at the Latino Outdoors table.

Meet a Scientist

During Celebración de los Árboles, attendees can visit information tables near Meadow Lake to speak with scientists from the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative and Global Tree Conservation Program.

Tree Science Field Stations

During Celebración de los Árboles, learn about conservation work being done by Arboretum scientists and explore the connection between oaks and monarch butterflies with guided tours beginning at the Arboretum’s Administration and Research Center. Tours have limited availability; sign up by 1:00 p.m. at the Global Tree Conservation table.

Meet a Scientist

Lea en español.

During Celebración de los Árboles, information tables near Meadow Lake will be staffed by scientists from the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative and Global Tree Conservation Program. Stop by to learn how urban and community initiatives are benefiting the lives of people in the Chicago region and how on-the-ground action projects with partners in Mexico and Mesoamerica are benefitting ecosystems while supporting local communities.

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.

Global Tree Conservation Program

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

Tree Science Field Stations

Lea en español.

During Celebración de los Árboles, learn about research and conservation work being done by Arboretum scientists and explore the connection between oaks and monarch butterflies with guided tours beginning at the Arboretum’s Administration and Research Center. Participants will be guided through the following three stations.

Station 1: Cloud Forest Conservation

Learn about the Arboretum’s work through the Global Tree Conservation Program to promote the conservation of montane cloud forest habitat in Mesoamerica.

Station 2: Oaks of Mexico

Tour the Herbarium to learn about the Arboretum’s work preserving tree specimens from around the world including threatened oaks found in Mexico and Mesoamerica.

Station 3: Monarch Migration Station

Head to The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden for an interactive presentation and craft activity about the relationship between oaks and monarch butterflies.

Tour Registration

Due to limited space, attendees must reserve a spot by visiting the Global Tree Conservation table near Meadow Lake before 1:00 p.m. on the day of the tour.

Tour Schedule

The time to visit all three field stations is approximately an hour and thirty minutes. Tours will be held twice each day at the following times:

Saturday, September 28
1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 29
1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Participants will gather at the tour start time for a welcome presentation at the Arboretum’s Administrative and Research Center.

Tour groups will visit two Tree Science Field Stations in the Arboretum’s Administrative and Research Center. Tours will conclude with an interactive activity at the Monarch Migration Station in The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden.