Vancouver Morris Men and Cherry Blossoms

The Big Picnic is a free Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival event. It features live entertainment at a park on a weekend in March or April.

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s Big Picnic at David Lam Park

The Big Picnic is a free event where people bring their families, friends, picnics, and something to sit on and enjoy an afternoon of live entertainment and cherry blossom viewing.

There are live performances, yoga sessions, exhibitions, and more. There are also different ceremonies and activities to enjoy. Attendees can learn different Japanese arts and crafts. Several food trucks are at the event each year, too.

The 2026 event takes place on Saturday, March 28th, and Sunday, March 29th. It runs between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm each day.

About the Venue

Years ago, the Big Picnic took place at Queen Elizabeth Park. More recently, however, it has been happening at David Lam Park in Yaletown. This is the case again in 2026.

The park’s address is 1300 Pacific Boulevard. The nearest SkyTrain Station is Yaletown-Roundhouse, about a five-minute walk away.

Cherry Blossom Season in Yaletown — The Big Picnic at David Lam Park

Entertainment and Activities

The 2026 edition of the Big Picnic features two stages with live entertainment. Performers over the weekend include The Magical Kingdom, FILMIX, Vidya Kotamraju, Soaring Stilt Dance, Shalom Wiebe, Southern Wave Okinawan Music and Dance Society, Andrea Superstein, and more.

There are various workshops hosted by emerging artists as well. For example, on the Saturday, Amanda Niekamp hosts a lantern-making session and Anella Schabler hosts a block-printing session. Then on the Sunday, attendees can learn cardboard embroidery with Jasper Berehulke and card making with Julia Vasileva.

The Big Picnic also offers a selection of food trucks and artisan vendors. New for this year is a Pet Parade at 1:00 pm on the Sunday. There’s yoga in the park, a Haiku Exhibition, and a Poetry in Motion booth too. Plus, for folks wanting to pre-order their picnic, options are tea and scones from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or Hanami Bento from MINAMI.

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your experience at the Big Picnic event.

TIP #1: Don’t forget to take your camera, a seat or something to sit on (e.g., a blanket or tarp), and your picnic.

TIP #2: Explore the park while you’re there. It’s a beautiful spot!

TIP #3: Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival events sometimes get cancelled or postponed due to weather or the state of the cherry tree blooming season. Before heading out with all your belongings, especially if inclement weather is forecast, double-check the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival website to confirm events are still happening as planned.

TIP #4: David Lam Park is right on the False Creek Seawall. It’s a great place to walk, either before or after the picnic. There are also lots of restaurants nearby in Yaletown.