The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival will once again host one of the city's largest free picnics in April for the community to admire and delight in the magnificent blooming trees.
The Big Picnic, set to be held on April 11, is one of a number of events throughout the festival, which runs from Thursday, April 2 to Sunday, April 26 with a mission to “actively engage diverse communities through arts and culture that celebrates the transcendent fragile beauty of the cherry blossom.”
Every year, more than 3,000 people come together under Queen Elizabeth Park’s iconic cherry blossom canopy to share in the beauty of the blossoms.
The free event is inspired by the Japanese cultural tradition of Hanami which literally translates to “cherry blossom (hana) viewing (mi).” Hanami dates back to more than a thousand years ago when Japanese aristocrats sat under the flowering cherry trees and wrote poems inspired by the blossoms.
The event invites Vancouverites to bring their own mat or purchase one of the Festival’s connecting Petal Mats, bring a picnic basket and make some new friends under the stunning flowers.
The event will also have family activities, cultural entertainment and some of Metro Vancouver’s best food trucks.
So far, the entertainment line-up includes The Khac Chi Ensemble, a Vietnamese duo that will delight crowds with Khac Chi Bamboo Music, which is said to take you on an adventure in sound. They perform various styles of Vietnamese traditional music, folk music and contemporary music.
Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack), a Young group of Coast Salish people coming from across the Coast and throughout the Fraser Valley, will sing, dance, and pray as one for everyone at the picnic.
The day will also have Okinawan style drum dancing called Eisa performed by Japanese group Vancouver Okinawa Taiko—who aim to promote and share Okinawan cultural heritage. Plus, there will be Chinese classical and fold dancing by Jessica Yue Dance Studio and a traditional Korean performance by Namsadang Cultural Institute.
Find more information on the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival HERE.
The Big Picnic
When: Rain or Shine! April 11 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park’s cherry blossom canopy - parking closest to the venue will be reserved for vendors. the event suggests two paid parking lots:
• At the top of the park, near the conservatory, access off Midlothian Ave.
• Near the tennis courts, access off W 37th Ave. Cost: Free
