Cherry blossoms are blooming across the city, which can only mean one thing. It's time for the outdoor Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival.

The grand opening occurred on Saturday (April 2) at David Lam Park in Yaletown.

Below, you can see a festival video, which includes a greeting from executive director Michael Dove.

The cherry blossom, a.k.a. Sakura, is the national flower of Japan. They have a brief but memorable lifespan, filling many parks and side streets with a pink glow.

The next big event on the festival's calendar is the Sakura Days Japan Fair next Saturday and Sunday (April 9 and 10) at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak Street).

It includes Japanese food, a tea ceremony, and various performances, including taiko drumming, theatre, and woodworking demonstrations.

There's also a stamp rally for kids, who must visit five stations on the grounds and then show their full card to be entered for a prize. Vaccine passports are not required for this outdoor event.

For those still in the mood to remain indoors, there's an online How to Haiku workshop as part of the festival at 6 p.m. on April 19. It will be hosted by Michael Dylan Welch, founder of National Haiku Writing Month.

The festival is presented by Coromandel Properties.