Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Blossom Festival

Garry Point Park, Steveston
April 8, 2018, 11:00am - 4:00pm

What is Cherry Blossom Festival?
The 2nd annual Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the arrival of spring and blooming of the cherry blossoms. In Japan, cherry blossoms are known as sakura, which are a special flower to the people and the country. The cherry blossom signifies a time of renewal and the cycle of life. Two weeks after the peak of the cherry blossom’s bloom, the petals begin to fall. The cherry blossom celebration includes picnics under the cherry trees with food and drinks shared with friends and family—this is a tradition known as hanami which translates to “watching blossoms,” and can be traced back hundreds of years.

The Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival is set amongst 255 Akebono cherry blossom trees at Garry Point Park, on the mouth of the Fraser River. The festival will feature a day of traditional Japanese music and dance performances, delicious food options and fun activities as celebrated in Japan.
  
Admission:
It’s free and open to the public!

Map & Schedule:
The festival will have two stages in the Sakura Tent and Kuno Tent programmed with traditional Japanese dance, Taiko drumming and other talented musicians.
Download the  Festival Map. 


Food options:
Visit the Matsuri Tent where traditional bento boxes and green tea will be sold from our friends at Takeya. Enjoy local favourites from Damien's Belgian Waffles, JAPADOG and Pajo's Fish & Chips. Come hungry! There will be plenty of places to sit and enjoy your meal. Or, you may want to bring a picnic blanket and sit under the cherry trees like a true Sakura Matsuri!

Activities:
Drop by the Hanami Tent and participate in the Sado Tea Ceremony, Shodo Japanese Calligraphy and Sakura Origami demonstration. Take part in traditional Kimono tying and get a picture taken under the cherry blossom trees. Or, perhaps you would like to peruse the BC Wakayama Kenjin Kai Bonsai display. While you're at Garry Point Park, take a stroll through the many trails and the Kuno Garden.  

Getting to the Festival:
Garry Point Park is located within walking distance from Steveston Village, in the South West corner of Richmond. Click here for map directions.

By Bus: Translink’s bus #410 provides direct service to Garry Point Park. For schedule information, click here. 

By Bike: Ride the scenic and easy route to the festival and park you bike in our free and secure Wheel Watch bike valet area.

By Car: Public parking is available in the pay lot on Chatham Street (200m from the park). The parking lot at Garry Point Park is restricted to pass holders and those displaying an Accessible Parking Permit.

What's the weather going to be like?
It’s going to be a beautiful spring day, but if not, all of the performances and activities will be under big heated tents. 

Volunteers:
The festival is looking for a volunteers to help with various aspects of the festival. If you’re interested in joining the volunteer team, please email Manisha Jassal at Manisha.Jassal@richmond.ca.

The Organizing Team:
The inaugural Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival in 2017 was hosted by the BC Wakayama Kenjin Kai and organized by Mary Hirano and Jim Tanaka and funded by the Richmond Canada 150 Celebration Grant Program. This success of the first year festival paved the way for it to become an annual City produced festival with Jim and Mary providing overall artistic direction.