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We are happy to announce that the 2022 Festival kicks off with the return of THE BIG PICNIC in a new majestic cherry blossom park location – David Lam Park! The event runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
When 100 akebono cherry trees come into bloom in this spectacular setting it will be a magical event to behold! This event honours the Honorable Dr. David Lam’s donation of cherry trees and celebrates friendship as we are all friends under the cherry tree. The day will begin with a special tree dedication ceremony featuring representatives from Vancouver’s three Host Nations of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh as well as our friends from Japanese Consulate.
This year the Festival will celebrate the 2021 Winning Haiku with a Haiku Installation as part of THE BIG PICNIC with our Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. The intent of this installation is to connect the poems to the cherry tree and provide a unique way to experience and honour these winning haiku while featuring the work of three First Nations artists. The installation will be located at the North West entrance to David Lam Park amongst a beautiful display of cherry blossoms.
For the first time, THE BIG PICNIC will be catered by our Private Sushi Chefs with a new Blossom Bento which is now available for advance reservations. There will also be a couple of food trucks or you can bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy while you safely reconnect with us in nature and make some new friends. You’ll be able to relax under cherry blossoms right in the heart of the city in the Yaletown neighbourhood while enjoying a superb line-up of local talent on the Cherry Jam Stage as well as a variety of fun and interactive arts activities and workshops.
Everyone is Welcome!
Cherry Jam and Second Stage
Program Schedule:
| 10:00 am | Yoga with Carolyn |
| 11:30 am | Opening Ceremony with Host Nations and Welcome |
| 12:15 pm | Tree dedication |
| 12:30 pm | DJ ICE B (Second Stage) |
| 1:00 pm | Chibi Taiko performance |
| 2:15 pm | Tom Landa performance |
| 2:45 pm | Now or Never performance (Second Stage) |
| 3:00 pm | DJ ICE B (Second Stage) |
| 3:30 pm | MNGWA performance |
Engage in best blossom photo ops ever, origami, monoprinting, drawing, and painting cherry blossoms, and new fun games. View our drone film project In Full Bloom in the Translink Reconnect bus.
In partnership with the Yaletown Business Improvement Association. With support by David and Dorothy Lam Foundation.
Dress up for the occasion and take photos to show off your picnic on social media. Don’t forget to tag @vancherryblossomfest and add #TheBigPicnic so we can re-share your adventure!
Performances and Artist Bios
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MNGWA. Vancouver’s eclectic multi-cultural ensemble MNGWA drifts on the northern shore of the blooming Latin Alternative music movement. Since 2013, these pioneers of progressive cumbia have been crafting a sound all their own, mixing Latin American and African rhythms with psychedelic rock, funk, reggae, salsa, hip hop and more. |
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DJ Ice-B. The one and only one DJ Ice-B ! Born and raised in France and now in VanCity, Ice-B is a choice DJ for the street dance community, Festivals, battles and parties. Ice-B’s understanding of musicality and what makes people groove comes naturally. His sets can take you everywhere from Classic Soul, House, Breaks, R&B, Funk, Disco Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Bare Riddims. |
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The Now or Never Crew. A high-flying, energetic Hip-Hop/Breakin’ crew, captivating audiences for over 17 years. The crew consists of like-minded individuals who share the same goal: worldwide recognition! Having already achieved two of the highest accolades — Battle Of The Year International and 2010 Winter Olympics — the Now or Never Crew has established its Vancouver legacy. This incredible crew continues today to contend with the top players in the street dance world. |
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Carolyn Anne Budgell is a dedicated meditation guide (and lifelong student!) and she has also been teaching yoga training and retreats worldwide for 10+ years. Most recently, her studies have taken her into the worlds of traumatic brain injury and end-of-life support.
Carolyn leads from a pragmatic, relatable, and lighthearted place while passionately encouraging others to remember that it’s never too late to breathe deeply, to grow, and to change. |
About #TheBigPicnic
The Big Picnic is a special event that brings people from all over Metro Vancouver together to share in the beauty of the blossoms and experience why “there are no strangers under the cherry tree”. The event is inspired by the long-time Japanese cultural tradition of hanami* which literally translates to “cherry blossom (hana) viewing (mi)”. This year share your home picnic adventures with us, to show the world how we’re moving forward in spite of the situation and still making happy cherry blossom memories!
*Hanami dates back to more than a thousand years ago when Japanese aristocrats sat under the flowering cherry trees and wrote poems inspired by the blossoms. Nowadays in Japan, friends and families gather under the cherry blossoms in the local parks eating homemade food or convenience store bento boxes, singing songs and partaking in simple, fun activities such as photography and haiku writing.
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