Arbor Day Becomes Arbor Daze
The first Arbor Day was proclaimed in the State of Nebraska on April 10, 1872 through the effort of J. Sterling Morton. It is estimated that one million trees were planted in Nebraska on that first Arbor Day. Mr. Morton believed that trees brought value as windbreaks to prevent soil erosion, shade from the hot sun, and a renewable source of fuel and building materials. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated throughout the United States and in many other countries around the world.
The roots of the City of Euless celebration of Arbor Day can be traced to a Home and Garden Expo held in 1988 in the old gymnasium of what is now City Hall. Attended by some 1,500 residents, the event was declared a success and plans made to hold an annual event emphasizing trees and beautification. The following year, the “How to Grow Lawn and Garden Show” was held at the newly constructed Midway Recreation Center. The featured entertainment was a group of local senior citizens known as the Spice of Life Band. Instruments included spoons and a washboard.
The small festival grew in the ensuing years and in 1992 was moved to the grounds of City Hall with name of "Leisure Fair presents Arbor Daze of City Hall." The festival began to experience exceptional growth as the attractions increased and big name musical acts were featured. The Dixie Chicks, Mamas and the Papas, Chubby Checker, and Little Richard were among the acts offered for the free concerts of City Hall. By 1998, Arbor Daze had evolved from a small community event to a major regional event attracting over 100,000 people. The overwhelming attendance to hear Three Dog Night, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and The Association signaled the end of Arbor Daze at City Hall.
In 1999, Arbor Daze was moved to a 200-acre site on Airport Freeway at Highway 360 to better accommodate the crowd. The larger venue allowed acts such as The Beach Boys, (2000 and 2003), The Righteous Brothers (2002) and The Four Tops (2001) to be offered. The crowd continued to grow to over 200,000.
During the years of Arbor Daze on the Airport Freeway at Highway 360 site, many local residents expressed the opinion that the festival had grown much too large. Many wished for the "Good Ole' Days" when Arbor Daze was at City Hall. In response to these other concerns, city officials used 2006 as a year to consider what the Arbor Daze of the future should be.
The 2007 Arbor Daze Festival will return to its "roots" with an event for the Euless community. It has moved back to the City Hall Complex and will be a festival to remember. For the complete details, please see pages 14 & 15 of this magazine or visit www.arbordaze.org.
