Vancouver Okinawa Taiko at Gary Point

The Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival is a Japanese-themed community event at Gary Point Park near Steveston Village in Richmond.

The Cherry Blossom Festival happened as a virtual event on April 10th in 2022. It takes place as a live, in-person event on April 2nd in 2023.

Cherry Blossom Festival at Gary Point Park

The Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival is a free event. It celebrates the arrival of spring and the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing (or “hanami”). The fourth annual festival was supposed to take place on Sunday, April 5th, 2020. However, the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. In-person festivities were cancelled for 2021 as well, but an online event happened on April 11th that year.

The 2022 Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival took place in a virtual format once again. On Sunday, April 10th, virtual performances and online activities were available for all to enjoy. There were musical performances and a virtual tea ceremony, along with various demonstrations about kimonos, sushi rolling, calligraphy, origami, bonsai pruning and more.

Hopefully the Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival is able to return to its regular in-person format in 2023. It’s looking likely! Exact details, however, are to be confirmed.

At the event in normal years there is live music as well as dancing and drumming performances. Other things to see and do most years include koinobori kite flying, kimono-wearing demonstrations and displays of Japanese flower arrangements and bonsai plants. There are also food trucks on site.

Koinobori Carp Streamers at Richmond Blossom Festival — A Japanese Koinobori Kite Streamer

Gary Point Park

The festival takes place at Gary Point Park which is located at 12011 Seventh Avenue (so just a 10-minute walk west of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston Village).

Gary Point Park is situated at the mouth of the Fraser River. At the park there are a couple of hundred Akebono cherry trees, which makes it the perfect place for a cherry blossom festival.

Tips and Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most out of your visit to Gary Point Park and the Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival.

TIP #1: While in the area, explore Steveston Village. It’s a beautiful spot to walk around. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is especially interesting and admission is free for children ages 17 and under.

TIP #2: Take your bikes if you like cycling. The area is pretty flat and there are miles of paved cycling trails. Parking on the day of the festival can also be a challenge as there’s no on-site parking, so taking your bicycles might save you from a long walk. There is also a free “wheel watch” where someone will always be watching to make sure your bike is secure and safe.

TIP #3: If you like this sort of event then also check out the following:

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – they host a number of events (both free and ticketed) during the month of April including the Sakura Days Japan Fair at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Chilliwack Tulip Festival – it’s an amazing event in the Fraser Valley in April. It’s not a festival with music and entertainment, and it doesn’t have a Japanese theme. It does though celebrate spring and showcase millions of beautiful flowers.
Powell Street Festival – a distinctly Japanese event in Vancouver on the August Long Weekend.
Nikkei Matsuri – a Japanese festival at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby on the Labour Day Long Weekend.

TIP #4: A big part of Japanese-style events like this is the festival food. It’s delicious! There isn’t a huge selection at this particular event most years, but there is some, and what’s there is usually pretty tasty! Try some!