Cherry Blossom Greetings
The 2008 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival captured the heart of Vancouver and was "the talk of the town" this spring. The city-wide celebration has given Vancouverites a whole new appreciation of spring so that we now "look at spring and our environment with fresh eyes". The cherry tree inspired 800 new haiku from 36 countries, an exciting Cherry Jam Downtown concert showcasing Vancouver's talent and, cherry tree planting dedications with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, YVR Airport Authority and VanDusen Botanical Garden as well as a new event with Slow Food Vancouver, Bike the Blossoms.
The festival creates much cherry excitement, inspiring citizens in so many different and meaningful ways. While the festival connects people with the natural beauty of our environment at springtime, participants bloom with the festival through such programs as BC Blossom Watch and Plein-Air Blossom Painting and Haiku Garden which provide a medium for creative expression.
This year we learned a most important message from the Honorable David Lam who shared his Cherry Philosophy of life with us at Sakura Day under the new Honorable David C Lam Cherry Grove at VanDusen Botanical Garden ~
" the most important message is that like the cherry blossoms which give us everything they have -- colour, fragrance and everything beautiful == alas they have but only a short life yet they give us everything to make us happy == I am mindful of the shortness of my own life and with all of you helping I wish and pray to make it the fullest and make as many people as happy as possible."
WINNER OF THE 2008 "10 Ways to Win" CONTEST
April 03rd, 2008
VanDusen
~ Brent Lew ~ Winner of return airfare for two to Tokyo, Japan courtesy of Japan Airlines
WINNERS OF THE 2008 BC BLOSSOM WATCH PHOTO CONTEST
Winner ~ Shirley Man ~ Photo taken at Queen Elizabeth Park
Runner Up ~ Jingming Xiao ~ Photo taken at Minoru Park, Richmond
Honourable Mention ~ Paul An
March 25th, 2008
While 
Burrard SkyTrain Station’s prized display of Akebono cherries. Bramwell Tovey, Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra emceed the concert which played to an audience of more than 2,500 people. The afternoon festivities were electrifying with lots of entertainment fromTaiko Drumming and Dueling with Chibi Taiko and Steveston Tera Taiko, the The Vancouver Symphony Brass Quintet with Blossom Brass and Suzka Gypsy Jazz Violin and Dharmakasa. The Vancouver Trolley Company 
and Cantrav Desination Services provided a VIP Trolley, hosting gourmet lunch complete with Cherry Pie, while Daniel le Chocolat Belge, Energy Max and Cheesecake Etc. provided delicious cherry blossom sampling for all to enjoy.
As the festival moves forward and the blossoms become more beautiful and plentiful across Vancouver’s 23 neighborhoods we remind participants of our 10 Ways to Win return through participating in or attending any official festival event or program as listed in the Festival Program Guide or website. You will have a chance to win round trip airfare for two to Tokyo, Japan compliments of Japan Arlines. The entry form can be found at the following link - “10 Ways to win”..jpg)
Please see our online event calendar or you can download our the calendar here to print. Enjoy all the events being offered this year until April 20th and as we move into our fourth year next year watch for many more exciting opportunities to experience the spring blossoming of Vancouver with the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and its growing list of supporters and volunteers that help us produce Canada’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
Official Sponsors
