Fun with the Family on Easter Long Weekend
Spring is here with warmer weather, longer days, and lots of Easter festivities. Plan a family-friendly Easter Long Weekend with trips to a farm, gardens in bloom, spring hikes, and more.
Easter on the Farm
Visit a local farm to visit with baby farm animals and take part in Easter-themed festivities.
North Vancouver's Maplewood Farm has an Easter event on April 19th with crafts, face painting, balloons, and oodles of farm animals.
Southlands Farm in Vancouver doesn't have any specific Easter events, but the farm is open to visitors on weekends and holidays so you can visit the horses, goats, chickens, and ducks.
Head out to Abbotsford to enjoy the BAE Days event at Maan Farms on April 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20. They have baby animals to snuggle, an Easter egg hunt, a tulip forest, and more.
Taves Farms in Abbotsford is holding Easterfest from April 18th to 20th. You can cuddle baby farm animals, meet the Easter bunny, hunt for Easter eggs, take a hayride, and enjoy themed treats.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Spend the weekend discovering pink cherry blossoms around the city. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is on until April 28. Use the festival's interactive blossom map to find blooms at over 2,500 locations.
Pack a picnic basket or pick up takeout from a local restaurant and spend the afternoon enjoying the blossoms with your family. The cherry trees on the west side of Queen Elizabeth Park, Granville Island, and the entrance to Stanley Park are all popular spots for blossom picnics.
Another fun way to enjoy the cherry blossoms is by bike. The Stanley Park Seawall and the False Creek Seawall both have several sections of cherry trees. You can rent bikes at several shops in downtown Vancouver. Our guide to cherry blossom cycling has more route options.
Historic Steveston
The historic fishing village of Steveston in Richmond is a fun destination for families. Check out working fishing boats docked at Fisherman's Wharf or browse the shops along Bayview Street.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a National Historic Site, has a special Easter at the Cannery event from April 18 to 20. It includes kids crafts, a story-time and a salmon-themed scavenger hunt.
Finish your day at nearby Garry Point Park. The short trails have great views of the river. The Akebono cherry trees at the northeast corner of the park are spectacular when they are in bloom.
Gardens in Bloom
Spring has sprung in Vancouver's gardens. Plan a family visit to VanDusen Botanical Garden to explore the 22-hectare garden. They have over 30 varieties of tulips alongside other spring flowers like daffodils, hyacinths, cherry blossoms, and flowering magnolia trees. Kids will love the hedge maze at the back of the garden.
Queen Elizabeth Park lights up with colourful flowers in spring. Walk the winding paths through the sunken Quarry Gardens to admire tulips and other seasonal flowers. Don't miss the Rose Garden on the south side of the park. Be sure to stop at the Dancing Waters Fountain, which is scheduled to reopen this spring after repairs. Kids will love the water show which uses 70 jets of varying heights.
Hike the North Shore
Embrace nature on a scenic hike on Vancouver's North Shore. Explore the trails at Lighthouse Park to discover old-growth forests along with views of the ocean and the city skyline. Or wander beside the rushing waters of Lynn Creek on the trails of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. Use our tips for spring hiking to prepare for the trails.
After your hike, make a pit stop at the Lonsdale Quay and Shipyards District in North Vancouver. Browse the food stalls at the Quay or grab dinner at one of the restaurants. Be sure to walk out along the pier for some of the best views of Vancouver.
Flower Festivals
Take a day trip to the Fraser Valley to walk through acres of tulip fields at one of the local flower festivals. You can experience huge fields of tulips at the Abbotsford Tulip Festival, a quaint Tulip Forest at Maan Farms, over 80 varieties of tulips at the Botanica Tulip Festival in Chilliwack, and 40 acres of tulips with mountain views at the Harrison Tulip Festival. The festivals are all in agricultural areas so be sure to stop by local farm stands for fresh produce.
Big Easter Run
Bring the whole family to participate in the Big Easter Run on April 19th at Jericho Beach Park. There are 5 km and 10 km courses for adults and older kids as well as a 1-3 km kids course which includes an Easter egg hunt. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome so you can bring the littlest and furriest family members. Runners get a chocolate finishers medal, bunny ears, and a personalized bib with a bunny name.
After the race head to West 4th Avenue or Broadway in Kitsilano to browse the boutiques or refuel at one of the many coffee shops and cafes. Little ones will appreciate a stop at Kaboodles Toy Store or Kidsbooks.