The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF) is right around the corner, with a full slate of celebratory events to welcome the arrival of spring.
The month-long festival will feature everything from a Japanese fair to communal dances to guided walks.
This year the Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 29 to April 25, according to organizers.
"Enjoy every fleeting moment as the city reemerges with the promise of a new season!" states the VCBF site.
Among the festival highlights is the Blossoms After Dark event, which finds the trees in David Lam Park illuminated from March 29 to 31.
There's also the Big Picnic, a very large meal taken outdoors, on March 30.
"The day will begin with a special tree dedication ceremony featuring representatives from Vancouver’s three Host Nations of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh as well as our friends from the Japanese Consulate," states the event page.
And there's the annual Sakura Days Japanese Fair on April 13 and 14.
"Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, food, and art – participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, try some Japanese festival food, sample premium sake, learn new Japanese games, and enjoy cultural performances," states the event page.
Other parts of the festival celebrating cherry blossoms across the city will be more self-directed, like the Haiku Invitational/Exhibition (a showcase of the traditional Japanese poetry style), Bike the Blossoms (a bike route to see the cherry trees) and, of course, visiting any of the 43,000 cherry trees in Metro Vancouver.
This year, the cherry blossoms are predicted to be at their peak in Vancouver on April 3.
