Tour des Trees

September 17, 2026 from 2 pm to 4:30 pm

Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) in celebration of the end of the week-long bike ride, the Tour des Trees, has partnered with the North Carolina Arboretum to create a Community Day event where locals can learn more about trees and urban forests.

Events will kick-off with an “Ask an Arborist” session from 2-3pm at the Education Center, where people can learn about how to take care of the trees on their property and ask questions to arborists about how to keep their trees healthy and strong. At 2:15, Mycology students from UNC-Asheville will lead Mushroom Walks throughout the grounds. At 3:45, children can learn all about why trees are important and how they grow by attending a PEP Rally featuring author and YouTube star, Professor Elwood Pricklethorn.

Professor Pricklethorn’s presentations are perfect for grade school children that want to learn more about trees in an exciting and sometimes comical way. He will also be visiting three different elementary schools during the week in western North Carolina, as a part of the Tour des Trees’ outreach events. “We are looking forward to ending this year’s ride in Asheville and we are very pleased to be able to work with the North Carolina Arboretum on these events where we can help grow the knowledge of local residents about the importance of tree research,” said Jonathan Cain, Communication and Engagement Manager at TREE Fund. “An important part of this ride and the reason why our riders join us year in and year out is because we are able to get out into the communities we ride through and talk trees.” The Tour des Trees bike ride is a week-long ride that takes place in different locations every year with riders traveling in from all over the world. This year, 95 riders will participate. “Asheville will be a wonderful city to end this year’s ride and having a place like the North Carolina Arboretum in town where we can interact with people that appreciate being outside and appreciate trees is a great way to cap off the week,” said Cain.

More information on where the riders will be going and the events throughout the week at TREE Fund’s website, www.treefund.org.

These programs will take place in the Auditorium within the Education Center.