Easter eggs and cherry blossoms: Here's what's happening in Vancouver this long weekend
Whether you're celebrating Easter or just enjoying a long weekend, there's plenty to do in Vancouver over the next few days.
Cherry Blossom Festival
This weekend marks the official start of the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, which continues through April 25.
While much of the festival involves either organized or self-guided tours of the city's roughly 43,000 cherry trees, there are also a variety of events celebrating the arrival of the blossoms. Detailed information on the festival's offerings can be found on its website.
This weekend, much of the action is in David Lam Park, where "Blossoms After Dark" – a festival of illuminated trees, music and food – will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
On Saturday, the park will also play host to "The Big Picnic" – a celebration including more live music, food, activities and workshops under the blossoms – from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Big Easter Run
Saturday is also the ninth annual Big Easter Run, a holiday-themed fun run with courses of one, five and 10 kilometres in Jericho Beach Park.
In addition to the run itself, the event includes an Easter egg hunt and prizes for non-racing categories like "best costume," "best selfie/photo," and "best custom name."
The event begins at noon and registration is required to race or volunteer. More information can be found online.
Art fair and egg hunt
A free egg hunt is part of the program at the Pacific Arts Market's Spring Art Fair, which takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the market's West Broadway location.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated and will be rewarded with a gift bag, according to the event listing.
Meet a real Easter bunny
Rabbitats, Metro Vancouver's rabbit rescue charity, is hosting its annual Easter Bunnyfest this weekend.
The main event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Lulu Island Winery in Richmond, but pop-up events are also planned for Lansdowne Centre on Friday and Granville Island on Saturday. All three locations will have rabbits on hand, according to the rescue.
"Rabbitats Rescue Society hopes that people will resist the temptation of acquiring a rabbit during the Easter season and visit the rabbits at our Easter events or our Bunny Cafe (1696 Venables St., Vancouver) instead," the rescue says on its website.
'Battle of BC'
Fighting game enthusiasts will be at the Vancouver Convention Centre's west building this weekend for "Battle of BC 6," a competition featuring tournaments in Super Smash Bros., Tekken and Street Fighter, along with side events, vendors and cosplay.
It's too late to register to compete, but spectator passes can be purchased via the organizers' website.
New Museum of Vancouver exhibit
The Museum of Vancouver is debuting its new exhibit "True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices" this weekend.
Beginning Thursday, the exhibit looks at "30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing from around the world and the artists who are reconnecting with traditional skin marking practices," according to the MoV website, which also has more information on the featured artists.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Handmade pop-up market
First Pick Handmade will host its March 2024 pop-up market at the Heritage Hall on Main Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Dozens of local vendors specializing in everything from fashion to food will be on hand. Admission is $3 and more information can be found on the market's website and Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Cybersecurity incident' shuts down London Drugs stores across Western Canada
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs were shut down Sunday after it was the victim of a “cybersecurity incident.”
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
Canucks pull off comeback, top Predators 4-3 in OT
Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime and the Vancouver Canucks came all the way back to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Aerial photos show wide devastation left by a deadly tornado in China's Guangzhou
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.