Spring is here! And so are Vancouver’s cherry blossoms. Every year, Vancouverites eagerly anticipate the blooming of the city’s 40,000 cherry trees. The blooming period, usually between late March and the end of April, signals the arrival of spring, covering the city in a wave of pink petals. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival marks the period and celebrates the beauty of Vancouver’s cherry trees with a celebration of all things spring.

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival began in 2006. As many of Vancouver’s cherry trees originated as gifts from Japan, the Festival began as a way to express gratitude for the gift and to celebrate the beauty and joy the cherry blossoms bring to the city. Since 2006, the Festival has marked the occasion with educational programs, musical performances, and fine art and craft exhibitions. The Festival’s mission is simple: “To sustain & renew Vancouver’s cherry tree heritage, while educating and actively engaging diverse communities in local arts and culture to celebrate the fragile beauty of the iconic Cherry Blossom.”

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival features several events over the month of April. A full list of events can be found here.