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 April most years.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival offered a series of virtual events in 2021. However, the Big Picnic returned as an in-person event at a new location on April 2nd in 2022. In 2023 it happened on April 1st (which is also April Fools’ Day). 2024’s event is to be confirmed.

Vancouver’s Big Picnic

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

Meditation guide Carolyn Anne Budgell begins the day with a yoga session on the grass. There are also two stages with live music and dancing. Performers include Zimbamoto, Serengeti, Raincity, and drumming with Vancouver Okinawa Taiko. There’s also music with DJ ICE B and Double Dutch, as well as a breakdance show by the Now or Never Crew.

In between these performances there are usually different ceremonies and activities to enjoy. Attendees also have the ability to learn different Japanese arts and crafts. In 2022 there were fabric wrapping, easel painting, monoprint making and origami workshops. 2023 activities likely were similar, although exact details were to be confirmed. We expect similar activities for the festival in 2024.

The 2023 Big Picnic was catered by private sushi chefs who prepared Blossom Bento boxes for attendees to enjoy. These boxes could be pre-ordered online for $20. They included sakura rolls, salmon, nigiri, sushi ginger and salad. You didn’t have to buy a bento box, but you could if you wanted one. Food trucks at the event this past year included Chickpea, Disco Cheetah and Scavenger Coffee.

Yoga Under Cherry Blossoms at the Park — Yoga at Queen Elizabeth Park

About the Venue

In previous years, the Big Picnic took place at Queen Elizabeth Park which is a beautiful place and the highest piece of land within the City of Vancouver.

In 2022, the Big Picnic took place at David Lam Park in Yaletown on April 2nd. The 2023 event took place at the same location on Saturday, April 1st, from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm. The park’s address is 1300 Pacific Boulevard. The closest SkyTrain Station is Yaletown-Roundhouse which is about a five-minute walk away.

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

2023 Entertainment Schedule

There were two stages with live music and entertainment at the Big Picnic in 2023. Artists and performance times for each stage are listed below. The entertainment schedule for 2024 is still to be confirmed.

10:00 am – Yoga with Carolyn Anne Budgell (Cherry Grove Stage)
11:30 am – The Big Picnic Opening Ceremonies (Big Picnic Stage)
12:00 pm – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko (Big Picnic Stage)
12:20 pm – DJ ICE B and Double Dutch (Cherry Grove Stage)
1:00 pm – Zimbamoto (Big Picnic Stage)
1:45 pm – Now or Never Crew (Cherry Grove Stage)
2:15 pm – Serengeti (Big Picnic Stage)
3:00 pm – Now or Never Crew (Cherry Grove Stage)
3:30 pm – Raincity (Big Picnic Stage)

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, something to sit on and your picnic (or money to buy one).

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 stuff, especially if poor weather has been in the forecast, double-check the VCBF website to make sure things are still happening as planned.

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