Blossom Barge coming to Vancouver this April
It’s already feeling like Spring is in the air with the last few days of sunny, warm weather. So, it’s no surprise that news about the upcoming 10th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival is starting to hit local blogs. There are now only two months left until the unofficial start of Springtime in Vancouver!
New this year, the 2016 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has announced that they will be creating a Blossom Barge, a multi-day floating spectacle that will have 40 beautiful cherry blossoms on the last place you’d expect them to be, in the sea!
On Saturday, April 16, 2016, the Blossom Barge will launch from Crab Park in Vancouver to make its maiden voyage past Canada Place, Stanley Park, English Bay, Granville Island, and Science World. The Barge will be moored at Granville Island Market from April 16-17.
Image courtesy of Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
There will be afternoon performances from the barge stage featuring exciting free performances of Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Tetsu Taiko & Tzo’kam cross-cultural collaboration, Langley Ukulele Ensemble and international yoyo superstar – Harrison Lee.
For the final day, Sunday April 17th, the Blossom Barge will launch again. This time, the public is encouraged to join the Blossom Barge Flotilla when the barge makes its journey from False Creek back to Crab Park.
Anyone is invited to put on their best pink outfit, blossom up a crew and vessel, and be a part of the flotilla – you can sign up now. Kayakers, Paddleboarders, First Nations canoes, dragon boats, rowers, yachts, and pleasure boats are invited to participate, following the barge as it makes its way back to the other side of the downtown peninsula.
Or, you can simply watch the spectacle as it goes by from the Canada Place Viewing Station, the Official Fan Zone of Cherry Blossom Festival Blossom Barge!
Image courtesy of Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
It’s certainly a unique and exciting event for this year’s 10th Anniversary of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, so don’t forget to mark your calendars! You only have two months to figure out how to paint your boat pink.
Schedule of events:
- Saturday, April 16, 2016
- 10:40 a.m. Parading from Science World back to Granville Island
- 12:00 PM- 2:30 p.m Performances Start at Granville Island Market
- 8:30 PM – 10:00 p.m. Sakura Illumination
- April 17, 2016
- 12:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Performances Start at Granville Island Market
- 3:00 p.m. Parading from Granville Island to Science World
- 4:20 p.m. Passing by English Bay Inukshuk
- 5:25 p.m. Passing by Canada Place