The payoff for living through Vancouver‘s damp gray winters comes in the spring, when flowers around the city burst into bloom.

And what better way to celebrate spring’s arrival than with the Vancouver Festival de Flores de Cerezo?

This flower-focused fest sponsors a variety of events around town, beginning this weekend (el sábado, De marzo 28) and continuing through April 24.

Entre lo más destacado:

Bajo el cerezo
Sábado, De marzo 28 y el domingo, De marzo 29, 10 am to 5 pm, VanDusen Jardín Botánico
The festival’s opening event celebrates the blossoms as well as Japanese culture.

El centro de mermelada de cerezas
Martes, De marzo 31, el mediodía hasta las 1:30 pm, Burrard la estación de Skytrain
This free concert features the Cascade Brass Quintet with Blossom Brass, Chibi Taiko y Taiko Yuaikai Ryukyu Grupo de Danza, los ritmos globales de Kutapira, la banda de pop japonesa Isla, and CBC’s Bill Richardson reading the winning haiku from the festival’s Haiku Invitational.

Bici las Flores
Sábado, De abril 18 10 am to 4 pm, Comienza en la VanDusen Jardín Botánico parking lot
This food-focused cycle tour travels along prime cherry blossom viewing routes. You can also sample local food and meet area farmers at community centers along the way. Co-sponsored by Slow Food en Vancouver, where you can get more information and also register online.

Las conversaciones de los árboles y paseos
Guided nature walks at area parks.

• Domingo, De abril 5, 1 a 2:30 pm, Queen Elizabeth Park
• Viernes, De abril 10, 3 a 4:30 pm, Stanley Park
• Lunes, De abril 13, 1 a 2:30 pm, UBC

And if you just want to explore Vancouver’s floral bounty on your own, check out the festival’s Cherry Blossom viewing map.

Foto por Alan Bruce (Flickr)