Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Vision Photography
Celebrate spring with the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Inspired by the Japanese cultural tradition of flower viewing, the festival organizes community-building events to enjoy the blooms. Here are eight Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival events you shouldn’t miss in 2022.
Steps for Sakura: April 1
Kick off the festival with the Steps for Sakura event on April 1. Happening at lunch hour in downtown Vancouver, this mindful-movement event encourages movement and connection to nature. It’s also the launch of the new Mobile Cherry Blossom Maps that will help you find blossoming trees all across Metro Vancouver. Register in advance.
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The Big Picnic: April 2
Take part in the Japanese tradition of hanami, by having a picnic under the cherry blossoms as part of The Big Picnic. This year’s event takes place on April 2nd at David Lam Park, which features 100 Akebono cherry trees. Bring your own picnic, buy lunch from one of the on-site food trucks, or pre-order a special catered sushi bento box designed especially for the event. Enjoy a haiku installation, a tree dedication ceremony, and performances from the Japanese consulate as well as the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Photo via Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Tree Talks and Walks: April 2, 8, 9, 10, 17, and 23
Join a free guided tour to explore cherry trees in bloom in several different neighbourhoods including the West End, UBC Botanical Garden, and Stanley Park. Register in advance.
Photo: Tourism Vancouver/Jason Lee Wang
Sakura Days Japan Fair: April 9 & 10
Celebrate all things Japan at the Sakura Days Japan Fair at VanDusen Botanical Garden on April 9 and 10. The event includes food, tea ceremony, taiko drumming, theatre performances, woodworking demonstrations, a Japanese garden display, and lots more. Purchase tickets in advance.
Photo via Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Haiku Invitational: March 1-June 1
Get ready to count your syllables: The Haiku Invitational competition runs from March 1 to June 1, 2022. The online contest awards prizes in six main categories: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, United States, International, and Youth. If you’re new to this style of short poem, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival website has tips to get you started with your first haiku.
Do-it-Yourself Blossom Walks: Late March to Mid-April
If you can’t make it to the scheduled events, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms on a do-it-yourself blossom walk. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has six different self-guided Vancouver walks to choose from. Each one includes the ideal weeks to visit for the best blooms.
Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Vision Photography
BLOOM! for Kids
Elementary school teachers and kids can use the BLOOM! video education resource to incorporate the cherry blossom festival into their curriculum. Learn about Japanese cultural traditions in spring, the history of Vancouver’s cherry trees, cherry tree botany, haiku, and more.
Explore Blooms Throughout the City
Each year the festival updates a huge interactive neighbourhood blossom map that shows which trees are currently blooming. With over 50 different cultivars flowering at nearly 2700 locations, the map is the best way to find cherry blossoms. You can sort by festival favourites (best for photographers), by expected bloom date, or just browse the map to see what’s nearby.
If you want to skip right to the best blooms, use our guides to find the best places to photograph cherry blossoms and the best places to see cherry blossoms around Vancouver. Viewing cherry blossoms from the seat of your bicycle is also a great way to celebrate. Check out these Vancouver bike routes with lots of cherry blossoms.
Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Melissa Bruntlett
By Taryn Eyton
Source Inside Vancouver
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