St. Petersburg’s popular Green Thumb festival has been an annual event since 1986.

ST. PETERSBURG – Celebrate the 32nd annual Green Thumb Festival, this city’s annual Arbor Day celebration, this weekend.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (April 28) and Sunday (April 29) at Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Ave. N. It’s hosted by St. Petersburg and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The Green Thumb Festival was established by the St. Petersburg Parks Department as an Arbor Day celebration in 1986. The concept was introduced by then Parks Director Litdell “Dell” Holmes in response to meeting the requirements for the prestigious Tree City USA award. St. Petersburg has been a recipient of the Tree City USA award every year since 1986 . This year, Mayor Rick Kriseman will accept the award and hand out the Green Thumb Annual Awards at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The first Green Thumb Festival was held in scenic Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on April 11, 1986. With support from the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association, the festival was a big success for a new event. Approximately 30 vendors participated along with 12 environmental groups. Entertainment was provided by several local blue grass bands and refreshments were sold.

In an effort to schedule special events in other sections of St. Petersburg, besides the popular waterfront parks or Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, the second annual Green Thumb Festival was held at Walter Fuller Park in the northwest section of the city.

For information about the Green Thumb Festival, go to stpeteparksrec.org or facebook.com.

St Petersburg | Green Thumb Festival | Arbor Day | Events | Things to Do | Tampabay News

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