The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF), presented by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, brings spring to the blue ways of Vancouver this April to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the annual celebration of the city's beautiful blooms.
Blossom Barge, presented by Tymac Launch Service, is an innovative floating installation of 36 flowering cherry blossom trees on a barge, showcasing a beautiful pink and white canopy of Shirotae, Shirofugen and Kwanzan cherry trees in full bloom.
Join in the fun on Saturday, April 16 when the Blossom Barge will parade Vancouver's waterways before mooring at Dock 7 by Granville Island Market at lunchtime. Celebrate spring with a mini festival of free performances on the barge by Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Tetsu Taiko & Tzo'kam cross-cultural collaboration, Langley Ukulele Ensemble, Kutapira, Chibi Taiko, and the international yoyo superstar, Harrison Lee.
On its inaugural journey from Crab Park to Granville Island on April 16, the Blossom Barge will give a sail-by salute as it passes the Pier at Canada Place, Stanley Park, English Bay, Granville Island and sails along False Creek to Science World, before returning to moor at Dock 7 at Granville Island Market. Audiences can get a great view from the Pier at Canada Place, Jack Poole Plaza, Harbour Green Park, Stanley Park, English Bay, all along False Creek, Granville Island Market and from the Granville Street Bridge.
On Sunday, April 17, blossom and boating fans are invited to put on their pink attire and board their vessels to join the Blossom Barge Flotilla as the barge makes its voyage from Granville Island Market down False Creek. Sign up to follow the barge and be surrounded by the fanfare of a flotilla of First Nations canoes, dragon boats, rowers, yachts and pleasure boats.
Support future blossoms by ordering a flowering cherry tree and planting a legacy through the festival's online Birthday Blossoms Tree Planting Program. The Vancouver Park Board will plant cherry blossom trees - Akebono, Shirofugen, Shirotae, Tai Haku and Kwanzan - in six parks across the city this spring. 36 trees from the VCBF Blossom Barge will be planted at groves in Queen Elizabeth and Balaclava parks following the festival.
This year's festival will close with the grand finale of Blossom Barge on April 17. For more information about Birthday Blossoms and other festival events, please visit Vcbf.ca.
