Celebrate Trails Day on the Emerald Trail

Groundwork Jacksonville invites the community to Celebrate Trails on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Butterfly Garden along the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link. Celebrate Trails Day is a nationwide initiative in collaboration with Rails to Trails Conservancy, to encourage people to get outside and explore their local trails.

This free community event will feature music, hot dogs compliments of Standard Feed & Seed, Juice Gawddess smoothies, giveaways, plus many activities to enjoy from Tai Chi, to painting and artist talks, plant and tree education, bike safety, sound bathing and more. You’ll even have the chance to take a shelter dog for a walk with City of Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services. The event culminates with the release of 200 butterflies.

Come early to take part in “LaVilla Remembered: Exploring Black History Along the Emerald Trail” from 9 – 10 a.m. A second tour will be offered at 11 a.m. During this walking tour, participants will discover the stories, landmarks, and cultural legacy that shaped the vibrant LaVilla community, from its roots as a center of arts and entertainment to its pivotal role in civil rights history. The tour is free but registration is required.

Celebrate Trails Day Activities Include:

• Bloom Lab - Herb smell station and clay pots painting
• COJ Animal Care & Protective Services - Take shelter dogs for a walk
• JTC Running - Running education
• Greenscape of Jacksonville
• Justice Wellness - Wellness demonstrations
• Melanated Growers - Fruit and vegetable seedling education
• Overstreet Ducasse - Park Street mural talk
• Project One Health - Kids’ activities at Florida C. Dwight Memorial Playground
• Sound Quest - Sounds Bathing at Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing Park
• Community First Credit Union
• Urban Monk Institute - Tai Chi
• StoryWalk® - Rainbow Stew Book
• The Honey Pot Bike Collective - Bike Safety
• Bill's Caricatures - Caricature Fun

Scheduled Events:

9 a.m. - 10 a.m.  “LaVilla Remembered: Exploring Black History Along the Emerald Trail” Guided Emerald Trail walking tour

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. “LaVilla Remembered: Exploring Black History Along the Emerald Trail” Guided Emerald Trail walking tour

11:30 a.m.          Tai Chi on the LaVilla Pond Overlook

12:30 p.m.          Butterfly release at the LaVilla Butterfly Garden

Special thanks to our sponsors: Baptist Health, Project One Health, Standard Feed & Seed, Athletic Brewing, Rails to Trails Conservancy, and Dennis + Ives.