Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Vancouver, British Columbia
Volunteer thank-you gifts help support staff stand out
More than a century ago, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, received hundreds of cherry trees from two mayors in Japan. The gift was a gesture to honour Canadian veterans of World War I, and in the years since it has reshaped the city’s landscape. Vancouver now boasts more than 40,000 of the ornamental trees. Their beautiful spring blooms—and the 100-plus year history associated with the trees—are at the core of the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival.
The festival, which celebrated its 20th year in 2026, is designed to connect people from all walks of life through free or low-cost and low-barrier programming. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of hanami, or “flower viewing,” the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is held over three weekends in spring and welcomes more than 80,000 attendees.
Community spirit in bloom
Multiculturalism is an important theme, and much of the programming celebrates the diversity of the city. “One of our goals is to combat loneliness and connect the community,” said Andrea Arnot, executive director. “We bring people together during the cherry blossom bloom with a mix of arts and culture. The focus isn’t just on entertaining people—it’s on creating opportunities for people to connect as a community.”
Occurring citywide, the celebration features musical performances, multicultural food vendors, poetry, photography, kids’ games and activities, guided walks, a picnic in an oceanside park and much more. A nighttime event, called Blossoms After Dark, features illuminated cherry trees, food trucks, LED performers and roaming musical acts.
Custom event promos spotlight supporters
While the nonprofit behind the festival has a small group of employees, it takes about 200 volunteers to bring the festival to life. A one by one grant provided bright pink lanyards opens in new window to hold the volunteers’ ID badges. The organization also purchased branded toques opens in new window, which provided warmth during the rainy and cool spring days.
The lanyards and toques—both in bright pink to match the cherry blossom aesthetic—made volunteers easier to identify during the festivities. Both were given as volunteer thank-you gifts, showing appreciation for the invaluable supporters and giving them a fun and practical takeaway from the experience.
A note from Cheryl
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival brings people together to celebrate the beauty of spring and the connections between cultures. We were proud to provide custom lanyards and hope the volunteer thank-you gifts helped the people who make this special event possible feel recognized and appreciated. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.ca opens in new window.
For more information about Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, please visit https://vcbf.ca/ opens in new window