The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival returns to the city this spring with a litany of exciting events that showcase the beauty of the blossoms.
The festival kicks off with Cherry Jam Downtown, a noon-hour concert on April 4 in the downtown core featuring local talent and memorable performances. The concert will include readings of the 2018 Haiku Invitational winning poems, as well as moving musical performances held under the majesty Burrard SkyTrain Station’s famed cherry blossom canopy.
Sakura Night is the festival’s standing reception fundraiser, and it celebrates an evening of Asian-fusion flavours on April 5. Proceeds go towards the non-profit and charitable VancouverCherryBlossomFestival (VCBF), an intra-community arts and cultural Festival vital for community engagement, multiculturalism, the arts, and the environment. The dress code is cocktail, and guests will enjoy dining on exquisite cuisine prepared artfully by the city’s top chefs.
THE BIG SING wants to bring residents together in musical harmony. They are inviting choirs and individuals to join their new free choral event for an uplifting and exhilarating experience on April 27 in the 800-Block Robson Plaza. Sign up by March 19 for a shirt, and have a look at the songbook.
The Big Picnic invokes the long-time Japanese cultural tradition of Hanami — “flower (hana-) viewing (mi).” The event takes place on April 13 (rain or shine) under the Queen Elizabeth Park’s iconic cherry blossom canopy where you bring a picnic mat, or purchase one of the Festival’s connecting Petal Mats, prepare a picnic basket, and interact with new friends.
The Sakura Days Japan Fair takes place on April 13 and April 14, inviting guests to experience the special ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony, culinary demonstrations, enjoy Japanese festival food, sample premium sake, guided Tree Talks and Walks to the cherry trees, and haiku readings. They will also have hands-on workshops to try calligraphy, origami and other Japanese arts and crafts demonstrations.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
When: April 4 to April 28
Where: Various locations across Vancouver
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