Citywide
Late March to late April
3-4 weeks
21+ years
Spring in Vancouver blossoms under pink canopies
Picture this: you’re walking down a Vancouver street in early April when the wind picks up, sending pink petals swirling like snow across the sidewalk. This is Sakura season, when nearly 40,000 cherry trees put on the city’s most spectacular and fleeting show. Sakura, the Japanese word for cherry blossoms, represents more than the flowers themselves; it reflects a centuries-old practice of pausing to witness fleeting beauty.
For over a thousand years, people in Japan have gathered beneath blooming cherry trees for hanami, or flower viewing, a tradition rooted in mono no aware, the bittersweet awareness of impermanence. Founded in 2005 to honour Japan’s historic gift of cherry trees to Vancouver in 1925, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has grown into a beloved spring tradition. Through community picnics, evening illuminations, Sakura Days Japan Fair, and cultural experiences across the city, the festival invites locals and visitors alike to slow down, gather, and share a moment beneath the blossoms.
Tips for watching the blossoms
- Check the bloom map: Cherry varieties bloom at different times throughout the festival, each with its own moment of glory. Use VCBF's online Blossom Maps to track peak bloom locations in real-time across all 23 Vancouver neighborhoods and discover which sakura are showing off this week.
- Book Sakura Days tickets early: The popular Japan Fair at VanDusen Botanical Garden typically sells out. Tickets usually go on sale in February, so plan ahead if you want to experience tea ceremonies, taiko drumming, and authentic Japanese cultural activities under the blossoms.
- Arrive early for free events: The Big Picnic and other popular outdoor gatherings can draw crowds;especially, during sunny weekends. Arriving early helps you claim the best spots under the cherry trees and avoid parking challenges. The early bird catches the first petal fall.
- Dress for Vancouver's spring moods: Spring weather in Vancouver shifts as quickly as falling petals; from brilliant sunshine to gentle rain and back again. Layer your clothing, wear waterproof shoes for damp grass, and bring an umbrella. Don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen for the magical spring days where light peeks through pink blossoms.
- Bring a picnic blanket and embrace hanami: Many festival events encourage the Japanese tradition of gathering under cherry blossoms with food, friends, and contemplation. Pack a blanket, seasonal treats, and beverages (some events have licensed areas) to fully embrace this centuries-old ritual.
- Respect the blossoms: These delicate flowers live for only days, so avoid shaking branches, climbing trees, or picking blossoms.
- Use transit: Major festival venues are well-served by SkyTrain and bus routes. Parking can be limited, especially during peak bloom weekends when half the city emerges from winter hibernation, so public transit is your most peaceful option.
Where is The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF)?
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates across the entire city, with over 40,000 cherry trees blooming in neighbourhoods from the West End to East Vancouver. Major festival events gather at key locations.
David Lam Park
- Expect waterfront views, open lawns, and peak blossom energy during events like The Big Picnic and Blossoms After Dark beneath 100 Akebono cherry trees
- Easy to pair with an evening walk or dinner nearby
- More info on David Lam Park
- View on Google Maps
VanDusen Botanical Garden
- VanDusen hosts one of Vancouver’s most diverse cherry blossom displays, Sakura Days Japan Fair celebrates 30 varieties of cherry blossoms, from delicate whites to vibrant double pinks
- More info on Vandusen Botanical Gardens
- See it on Google Maps
Queen Elizabeth Park
- Set atop Little Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park offers one of the highest vantage points in the city, with sweeping views across downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains
- More info on Queen Elizabeth Park
- Map your way there on Google Maps
Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC
- A traditional Japanese garden tucked inside the UBC campus, Nitobe Memorial Garden is designed around quiet paths, carefully framed views, and reflective water features
- Get directions on Google Maps
Stanley Park
- Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park offers wide paths, forested pockets, and open green spaces just steps from the downtown core
- Blossoms near the rose garden and Japanese Canadian WWI memorial, honouring the trees' origins as gifts of remembrance
- Find your way there on Google Maps
Bentall Centre's Dunsmuir Patio
- A downtown plaza tucked between office towers, this open-air patio transforms each spring into a lively gathering space beneath blooming cherry trees
The Blossom Block Party is a free, all-ages street festival. Dance under the blossoms with live performances, kids' activities, a pop-up bar with and cherry blossom-inspired drinks. - View on Google Maps
Festival events including tree walks, bike tours, and pop-ups also explore neighborhoods like the West End, Kitsilano, and Mount Pleasant. Use the festival's online Blossom Maps to discover cherry blossom viewing spots near you.
Getting there
SkyTrain
Multiple stations provide easy access to festival locations:
- Yaletown-Roundhouse Station (Canada Line): 5 minutes to David Lam Park
- Oakridge-41st Avenue Station (Canada Line): nearest to VanDusen Botanical Garden (plus #17 Oak bus)
- King Edward Station (Canada Line): serves Queen Elizabeth Park area
Bus routes
Frequent bus service connects to all major festival venues:
- #17 Oak: Direct service to VanDusen Botanical Garden
- #15 Cambie: Serves Queen Elizabeth Park
- #002 False Creek/Downtown: Stops near David Lam Park in Yaletown
- Plus routes serving UBC, Stanley Park, and neighborhood viewing locations
Bike the Blossoms
Vancouver's protected bike lanes and greenways make cycling an ideal way to explore cherry blossom neighborhoods. The festival's guided bike tour covers approximately 10-12 km through peak bloom areas.
Parking
Limited paid parking available at VanDusen Botanical Garden and Queen Elizabeth Park. Street parking in residential neighbourhoods can be challenging during peak bloom weekends. Arrive early or use transit.
What to expect
Hanami, Vancouver-style
Embrace the ancient Japanese tradition of hanami at The Big Picnic, a free community gathering in David Lam Park. Spread your blanket on the grass under 100 Akebono cherry trees, share food and laughter with friends old and new, enjoy multicultural performances on multiple stages, and experience the truth of the festival's guiding wisdom: "Hito wa sakura no shita ni tanin wa nai" means "There are no strangers under the cherry tree."
Sakura Days Japan Fair
Participate in the Japanese ritual of traditional tea ceremonies, feel the thundering heartbeat of taiko drumming, sample premium sake and authentic Japanese festival food, and learn traditional games that have delighted children for generations. Browse local Japanese artisan vendors, all surrounded by some of the VanDusen Botanical Garden's most spectacular cherry varieties in full bloom during the annual Sakura Days Japan Fair.
Blossoms After Dark
Witness cherry trees transformed into ethereal sculptures of light during this enchanting Blossoms After Dark evening experience at David Lam Park. As twilight falls and the petals glow against the deepening sky, enjoy live music, roaming performers, blossom-pink treats, and the licensed Blossom Lounge while discovering how the sakura reveal entirely different secrets under the stars.
Tree Talks , Walks & Bike Tours
Deepen your appreciation through free guided Tree Talks and Bike tours led by local experts who can tell an 'Akebono' from a 'Kanzan' at twenty paces. Learn about the poetry of cherry tree varieties, the history of Vancouver's sakura heritage stretching back a century, and the vital role these trees play in the urban ecosystem while exploring some of the city's most beautiful blossom-lined streets and hidden garden gems.
Cultural arts and community connection
From the Haiku Invitational poetry exhibition celebrating Japan's most beloved verse form to pop-up performances, workshops with local artists, and the Blossom Block Party with live DJs, the festival weaves arts and culture throughout the cherry blossom season like petals on the wind, celebrating the diverse communities and stories that make Vancouver bloom.
Ask
me
about
Vancouver
Cherry
Blossom
Festival
Past highlights and more
FAQS
