Arbor Day Celebration and Art Contest
Arbor Day - Feb 7, 2026
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Place: Belle Isle City Hall Parking Lot – 1600 Nela Avenue
There will be many ITEMS to see and take home, lots of GOOD INFORMATION, and a TACO and ICE CREAM truck.
Presented by the Belle Isle Tree Board.
What will the KIDS see, do, and receive?
Ice Cream – Face painting – Enter the ART contest – Find out about Scouts – Meet the police bloodhound “Belle” – Sit in a fire truck – Share plants and seeds at the SWAP table – Take home a free plant or two.
What else will be there to see and do?
- Learn about Mosquito control.
- Take home a free plant or two
- Talk to the forestry service person
- Visit the O-Town Compost table for information on composting and a raffle for a subscription.
- Ask about a coupon for the taco truck.
- Pick up some free items from JJ's and participate in a raffle for a JJ's trash can.
- See the Belle Isle boat, the crime-scene tent, and talk to Code Enforcement.
- Pet the bloodhound “Belle” and talk to her handler
- Visit and learn about plants at the UF Extension service trailer and pick up a brochure
- Come by the Tree Board table for a tree raffle, a free fridge magnet, and lots of good information
- Visit the vendor tables for more details and free trinkets.
2026 ARBOR DAY ART CONTEST
City of Belle Isle Arbor Day Poster Contest - Theme: “If Trees Could Talk”
The City of Belle Isle invites Belle Isle elementary, middle, and high school students to participate in the 2026 Arbor Day Poster Contest. This year’s theme, “If Trees Could Talk,” encourages students to imagine what trees might say about their role in our environment and why they are so important to our community.
Trees are a part of our everyday lives—along our streets, in parks, around schools, and in our neighborhoods. Whether we live in a city or a small community like Belle Isle, we are surrounded by an urban forest that provides shade, clean air, wildlife habitat, and beauty. Because trees are so common, we sometimes forget how essential they are and how closely connected we are to them.
This contest is designed to help students better understand their relationship with trees and to inspire appreciation for the many environmental benefits trees provide, such as cooling our neighborhoods, improving air quality, and supporting local wildlife.
Participation Guidelines:
- Deadline - Entries should be submitted no later than February 5, 2026.
- See Poster Contest Rules in the image below.
- Participation is open to elementary, middle, and high school students of Belle Isle.
- Participation by every grade level is encouraged but not required.
- Belle Isle Homeschooled students may submit posters individually.
- Teachers may adapt or supplement classroom activities related to trees and Arbor Day to meet their students’ needs; use of provided activities is encouraged but not mandatory.
Submission Requirements
- Open to all Belle Isle resident students.
- Each poster must include the student’s first name, last initial, and School Name.
- Posters should clearly reflect the theme “If Trees Could Talk.”
- By participating, students help celebrate Arbor Day while learning how trees support a healthier, greener Belle Isle—today and for generations to come.
The Mayor will announce the winners of the Art Contest during the City Council meeting, and the winning artwork will be featured on the cover of the upcoming City Connection newsletter! Don't miss the chance to get involved, learn something new, and show your love for our local environment. The winners' artwork will be displayed at City Hall for one month; all other artwork can be picked up between 8 am and 5 pm following the event, except the winning pieces. Submitted artwork will not be returned. For more information, contact yquiceno@belleislefl.gov or call City Hall at 407-851-7730.
