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UPDATE August 12, 2020, 12:45 pm: Due to the uncertainty of how soon physical events will be able to proceed, Sakura Night 2020 (originally postponed indefinitely) has been officially cancelled.
We understand that you may have been looking forward to Sakura Night as part of your Cherry Blossom Festival experience and we very much look forward to bringing back the annual fundraiser when the situation allows, and kindly ask for your patience, as we understand that this situation may persist for longer than we expect. The health and safety of our festival attendees, staff, and partners are our top priority.
In the meantime, the following partners are open for business and would really appreciate your support! Please consider them when you are thinking of your next meal.
- Zen Japanese Restaurant: Open for take-out and now open for dine-in with reduced hours from 4 – 9 pm! Please see what Chef Nobu and his team have on the menu!
- Ocean Wise: Chef Will Lew has joined the Ocean Wise family. Ocean Wise seafood is a conservation program that makes it easy for consumers to choose sustainable seafood for the long-term health of our oceans. The Vancouver Aquarium has now re-opened—visitors and members must book a ticket online for a designated entry time.
- ARC IBERICO IMPORTS: Specializes and offers Premium Spanish products (best Iberico Ham, Iberico Charcuterie, Conservas, Iberico Frozen Meat, Spanish Olives, Conserva Vegetables, and Frozen Seafood) on their Online Shop with shipping across Canada.
On behalf of the entire Sakura Night team, our board of directors and staff, we thank you for your support and for being a member of the cherry blossom community.
As a charitable non-profit society, funds raised at Sakura Night help to sustain our intra-community arts and culture festival, helping to fund our free, accessible events focused on “connecting our communities”. The Festival values diversity, inclusiveness, and accessibility, which is why we embrace the mantra, “there is no stranger under the cherry tree”. We curate free, family-friendly, cultural performances and interactive activities, to promote intercultural understanding and awareness, helping to break down cultural and societal barriers. Check out our Community Events page for more details.
Purchase Tickets:
CLICK HERE to go to the ticket engine page.
Early Bird — $125 (Available now, while they last!)
Regular Tickets — $150
A charitable tax receipt for approx. $80 will be issued to you after the event, on request. Proceeds go towards the non-profit and charitable Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF), intra-community art and cultural festival vital for community engagement, multiculturalism, the arts, and the environment.
What to Expect at Sakura Night:
Dress Code (Optional, but highly recommended!): We encourage people to come dressed in themes of pink and cherry blossoms. Make it fun and challenge the rest of your group to come dressed up as well!
Parking: A paid parking lot is located just a short walk away from the venue (Rose Garden Lane). Let our staff know if you require taxi service upon leaving the event.
Food & Drinks: We’ll be featuring top local chefs, so stay tuned! There will be several alcohol stations throughout the venue (included in your ticket price). In the past, we’ve had a selection of wines, beers, gin and sake. Additional alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the bar.
Support & Donate: Come prepared to bid on a selection of exclusive auction items. A small selection of auction items will be announced soon.
A sincere thank you to our esteemed committee members, Beckie Harcourt and Marie Rogers for supporting the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Society and making this evening possible.
To donate an auction item for Sakura Night or sponsorship opportunities, please email us at [email protected]
Photos in the gallery are by Cakewalk Media Inc., Leila Kwok (Crowd, Ramen)
Our Featured Chefs & Their Creations…coming soon!
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Benkei Ramen Chef Taka Omi Born and raised in Tokyo Japan, Chef Takayuki (Taka) Omi found his passion for food early in life. After sharpening his skills in Japan’s restaurant scene and at the Yamaha Resort in Tsumagoi, he made his way to Toronto, where he honed his craft at a small Japanese restaurant under his mentor, Chef Okada. In 2010, the ‘West Coast called’ and Taka moved across country to open The Lobby Lounge in the Fairmont Pacific Rim where he has since held the reigns of Sushi Chef. His passion for spreading Japanese cuisine has also led him to Benkei Ramen, where he dedicates several hours a week to producing authentic and quality ramen for Vancouverites to enjoy. When Taka isn’t rolling and slicing, he takes his talents to the classroom and shares his skills; teaching sushi classes for adults and children with proceeds going to the Red Cross Relief Fund.
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Chef de Cuisine Will Lew Growing up in the ‘City of Glass’, Will’s journey into the culinary world started through his grandfather, a chef in Vancouver’s Chinatown, and “head cook” at family dinners. He instilled not only a love for cooking in Will, but an appreciation for expressing oneself through different creative mediums including drawing, painting, woodwork, Chinese calligraphy and music. In 2005, Will took a job as a dishwasher in a local Vancouver restaurant and started to work his way up the ranks to become a cook. In the years that followed, Will’s talent and tireless dedication to his craft would pay off, seeing him as a Chef de Partie for the opening team of Trattoria Italian Kitchen, Chef de Cuisine at Sanafir Restaurant and Outlet Chef at Fairmont Pacific Rim. |
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Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver Chef Ken Nakano Chef Ken Nakano’s cuisine is ingredient-driven, first and foremost. A Vancouver native, Nakano was raised in a traditional Japanese household, where he developed an early appreciation for seasonal, home-grown ingredients thanks to foraging and fishing excursions with his family. The importance and respect for culinary traditions were instilled in him by his mother from a young age, and this continues to influence his style today. With over 20 years of culinary experience, covering all aspects of food and beverage operations, Nakano expresses his food philosophy at Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver with sophisticated yet uncomplicated flavours, and menus that showcase the best ingredients from coast to coast. With a passion for sustainability, he supports many local farmers, producers and fishermen; he was instrumental in launching the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program on Vancouver Island.
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The Victor at Parq Vancouver Chef Kazuhiro Kawamoto Chef Kazuhiro Kawamoto is the Executive Sushi Chef at The Victor, award-winning steakhouse at Parq Vancouver. Hailing from Japan and after graduating from Toyko Sushi Academy in Tokyo, Chef Kazu moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 2008 where he became a line cook at Miku Japanese Restaurant. He continued to hone his craft at Vancouver Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel and Tamaru Shoten Marketing Corp. Constantly striving to make his sushi beautiful and delicious, he is proud to introduce Japanese ingredients and comfort foods to the Vancouver dining scene.
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ARC Iberico Imports
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Alcohol Partners
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Winemaker’s CUT |
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Salt Spring Wild Cider |
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Stanley Park Brewing |
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Central City Brewers + Distillers
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Programs subject to change.
