Vancouver showers bring pink-coloured flowers. That’s how the saying goes, right?
Next to Japan, Vancouver is a great place to go on a sakuragari (or sakura hunting) adventure during cherry blossom season in late March and early-mid April. Vancouver’s cherry trees (of which there are 43,000 scattered across the city) are bursting with fleeting beauty everywhere from Queen Elizabeth Park and VanDusen Botanical Garden, to the city and residential streets.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF), running from Mar. 26 to Apr. 28, is the city’s annual festival that celebrates the arrival of sakura season and the springtime through over 20+ cherry blossom themed (and mostly free) community events.
With over 100 trees in full bloom, David Lam Park is one of the best spots to view the cherry blossoms in Vancouver, and also plays host to the city’s biggest free VCBF celebrations.
On Mar. 29, bring a blanket, a basket and some of your best buds to The Big Picnic to enjoy hanami (or flower viewing) at the park. From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can relax under the cherry blossoms trees while enjoying a variety of art activities (such as origami, felt crafts and block printing), a Haiku Exhibition, a line-up of local talent on the Cherry Jam Stage, yoga in the park, food trucks, a vendor village and other activations.
During the evenings of Mar. 28-30, Blossoms After Dark will light up the cherry blossom trees across David Lam Park. Embark on a magical promenade through illuminated canopies of blooms and uncover stunning photo opportunities and other surprises, including interactive activities, live performances, karaoke and even glow in the dark cotton candy.
New to VCBF this year is the licensed Blossom Lounge, which will be popping up at both The Big Picnic and Blossoms After Dark, so you can stop for a refreshing drink, including a special cherry blossom cocktail, enjoy entertainment from local talent and marvel over David Lam Park’s mesmerizing display of cherry blossoms during the day and night.
On Mar. 28 at 7 p.m., Juno nominated jazz vocalist Andrea Superstein will be performing a short set, including selections from her Vocal Jazz Album of the Year contender Oh Mother, at the Blossom Lounge.
The rest of the city will be celebrating the blooms in their neighbourhoods, too, so you can continue the sakuragari throughout Vancouver.
The first annual Blossom Block Party, in partnership with Public Disco, will take place on Apr. 5 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dunsmuir Patio at Bentall Centre. This free, all ages celebration in the heart of downtown will feature vinyl DJ sets, dance performances, a licensed pop-up bar with drinks and snacks from Funk Coffee Bar and Lee’s Donuts, and things to do for the kids.
An extension of VCBF, the Pop-Up Pavilion will be roaming around the city to spread the cherry blossom fever with free performances and activities for all to enjoy. On Mar. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Yaletown Pop-Up will take over Bill Curtis Square, and on Apr. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the West End Pop-Up will take over Jim Deva Plaza.
During the weekend of Apr. 12-13, the Sakura Days Japan Fair at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens will celebrate the very best of Japanese culture, from food and drinks, to cultural performances and art workshops. Attendees can look forward to participating in a traditional tea ceremony, sampling premium sake, learning new Japanese games, watching taiko drumming and woodworking demonstrations, discovering vendors featuring local Japanese food, crafts and businesses, and more. Tickets are available now.
To see which cherry blossoms are blooming near you, select the neighbourhood and dates you wish to visit on the Vancouver Cherry Blossoms Finder, and if you wish, make a plan to bike the blossoms, too.
For more information on the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.vcbf.ca.
