Dec. 24's opening shots

First drop-off for MulchFest 2026 in Tompkins Square Park... could have been joined by the larger sibling had someone dragged it here rather than discard it on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place...

Sunday's parting shot (MulchFest Edition)

Photo by Steven 

MulchFest signage has arrived in Tompkins Square Park four days before Christmas for anyone who wants to drag their tree here between now and Jan. 11. 

Chipping Weekend is Jan. 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ... and the fastest way to turn holiday cheer into neighborhood mulch. 

More on this (oh yes) in the days ahead.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

That's a wrap on Chipping Weekend, the MulchFest grand finale in city parks this weekend... including in Tompkins Square Park. 

There are now mounds of freshly shredded Christmas trees for the taking... you can use some to make a winter bed for a street tree, among other uses.

Reminders: It's Chipping Weekend

Tree escapee caught on 14th Street

In case you missed our previous posts on the topic, Chipping Weekend (aka MulchFest) is happening in Tompkins Square Park. 

The Parks Department will mulch up the assembled Christmas trees from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. 

You may take a bag of mulch home "to use in your backyard or make a winter bed for a street tree."

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

MulchFest is now in week No. 2... stocking up ahead of Chipping Weekend in Tompkins Square Park on Jan. 11-12.

Thursday's opening shot

Photo by Steven 

We're now on the clock for MulchFest, which culminates with Chipping Weekend on Jan. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in parks designated parks around the city... including Tompkins Square Park, where you can drop off your tree over the next few weeks.

Getting chippy: Merry Christmas, now let's mulch your tree

Once your holiday season is wrapped, bring your Christmas tree (no artificial ones, please) to Tompkins Square Park as MulchFest officially kicks off on Thursday*. 

Chipping Weekend takes place Jan. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to NYC Parks: "Bring your tree to a chipping site on Chipping Weekend to take home a tree-mento! We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree." 

Parks officials say that 46,626 trees were recycled last year.

* While MulchFest begins the day after Christmas, there's no rush to part with your tree. In fact, you could wait to drop it curbside until July or August, hoping it'll make headlines on a local news site.

On the clock for MulchFest 2024

Photos yesterday by Steven 

As a reminder, MulchFest 2024 happens today and tomorrow (Jan. 6-7) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Tompkins Square Park is also a chipping site... which means! "We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree."

Noted

Photo by Steven 

In case you wanted to be first with dropping off your Christmas tree today ... we had the first arrival early this afternoon at the site of the MulchFest signage in the center of Tompkins Square Park. 

MulchFest is coming up on Jan. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates released for Mulchchella 2024, where the headliners are your Christmas trees

Photo by Steven 

The Parks Department knows it's never too early to start thinking about mulching your tree — maybe even before you buy one! 

MulchFest signage arrived yesterday in Tompkins Square Park announcing the dates for this season's Mulchchella — Jan. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where free mulch will be up for grabs. (Prediction! Soon, this event will be two weekends long!)

Anyway, you can now drag your tree to the area in the middle of the Park for the mulching (though technically the Parks Department says Dec. 26). Of course it's never too early (or late!) to discard a tree.

Noted

Photo by Goggla 

A friendly reminder that if you're going to bring your Christmas tree to Tompkins Square Park (even though MulchFest is officially over), please remember to remove any pianos that might be attached...

MulchFest 2023 now with TOTE BAGS

Photos by Steven 

Day one of the chipping weekend for MulchFest 2023 is in the books. 

There's now a fresh mound of mulch for the taking in the middle of Tompkins Square Park...

The Parks Department is making it easier this year for residents to take some home for use in sidewalk tree beds, gardens, etc., with MULCHFEST TOTE BAGS... the IT accessory for the chipping season...

Back at it tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chipping in for MulchFest

Photos by Jackflashnyc 

Ahead of the chipping festivities in Tompkins Square Park this weekend, Drew and Thorn were spotted bringing some trees into the 2023 MulchFest site. 

Drew also showed a textbook-perfect tree-tossing technique ...

As we've noted, it's important that when throwing a Christmas tree, the head remains an extension of the spine, not bent forward. Also, keep the knees apart to avoid leading the throw with the right knee.

Anyway! Chipping Weekend takes tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Per the Parks Department: "We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree."

There are easier (but admittedly, less photogenic) ways to dispose of Christmas trees

Photo by Andrew Jacobs 

As seen this morning on Avenue B and 10th Street. 

Meanwhile, MulchFest continues ... residents can drop off their trees in the middle of Tompkins Square Park (where the others are piled). The chipping commences this coming weekend.

MulchFest begins TODAY

MulchFest Season is officially underway starting today (Dec. 26)  ... where now through Jan. 8 you can bring your Christmas tree to the center of Tompkins Square Park fir for mulching. 

Chipping Weekend then takes place on Saturday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Per the Parks Department:

We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.

Given how much more expensive trees were this season, some people may feel obligated to keep them longer than Jan. 8. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Chip, chip hooray! Video highlights from MulchFest 2022

EVG reader 4paul shares a rather sublime highlights video from this past Chipping Weekend, which (sob) marks the conclusion of the always-festive MulchFest season... highlights are from our own Tompkins Square Park as well as Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick. 

H/T Goggla!

Sunday's opening shot

A mulch mound courtesy of the chipping weekend in Tompkins Square Park... residents can come by and grab some fresh mulch for tree beds, gardens, etc.

Hot chip: Scenes from MulchFest Day 1

Day 1 of Chipping Weekend, the grand finale of the MulchFest season, is in the books here in Tompkins Square Park. 

Steven braved the low double-digit wind chill for these shots...

Back at it tomorrow (Sunday) for Day 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

So if you have a Christmas tree to dispose of, you still have time to take it to the park. Better, save it for discarding until, say, August, so we will have a Christmas in August post to look forward to... 

#Mulchfest

MulchFest '22: Everything you need to know about Chipping Weekend, happening THIS weekend

Photo earlier this week by Steven 

When: The two-day chipping event, the grand finale of the MulchFest season, takes place today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Where: Tompkins Square Park 

Where Exactly: Follow the sound of the wood chipper to the middle of the park. 

What Else?: Tompkins is also a chipping site, which means residents can take home a nourishing bag of fresh mulch to put down on gardens and tree beds and to spice up boring omelets. 

Why Should I Care?: It's eco-friendly and more than 29,000 trees were treecycled last year. Per the Parks Department website: "Help us top this number!" 

How Is It Possible That the Parks Department Can Get Such a Precise Number (29,000) Over Dozens of Chipping Sites in the Five Boroughs and We Can't Get Toilet Paper in the Restrooms in Tompkins?: Yes. 

What If I'm a Social Media Influencer?: Use #Mulchfest to share your mulching memories with friends, family and clingy exes.

Saturday's parting shot

A moment of levity today at the MulchFest site in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Derek Berg... 

And MulchFest is Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.