Green shoots are rising and small pockets of colourful flowers are popping-up throughout the city. But for many of us, it only feels like time to wave goodbye to winter and look forward to spring when the dramatic cherry blossoms start opening throughout Richmond.

These lush, delicate, selfie-inviting blooms are the perfect reason to grab your phone or camera and head outside for a scenic hour or two on a lovely blue-sky day. Luckily the city has a full bouquet of blossom-packed hot spots to visit as the season unfolds. Read on for some of our favourites.

Cherry blossoms make an appearance each spring. | Photo: Tourism Richmond

RICHMOND CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Alongside your blossom-viewing springtime excursions, make sure you add this must-see event on April 2nd to your calendar. Running from 11am to 4pm at Steveston’s shoreline Garry Point Park, this free-entry family festival includes music, dance and food stands that celebrate the park’s famously abundant blossom trees as well as the region’s rich Japanese cultural heritage.

The Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival returns this year on April 2nd. | Photo: Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival

GARRY POINT PARK

If you can’t make it to the festival this year, a visit to Garry Point Park should still be at the top of your blossom-watching to-do list. Home to more than 250 Akebono cherry trees, it’s easy to spend hours slowing down and pursuing the perfect spring nature photos here. Turn your lens towards the birds, too––this park is also an excellent birding location.

Garry Point Park is home to 255 cherry trees. | Photo: Tourism Richmond

GRANT MCCONACHIE WAY

On the main Sea Island road to Vancouver International Airport, you’ll discover multiple cherry trees planted in batches of four or five between the tall cedars and hemlocks. But they’re not the only colourful blooms you’ll find here: mature magnolia trees, with their impressively huge blooms, also line this route. 

Spring is also the perfect time to spot magnolias. | Photo: Tourism Richmond

LARRY BERG FLIGHT PATH PARK

This unique, family-favourite park is studded with aviation-themed features–– including benches shaped like paper airplanes, a climb-on soft play globe for curious kids and information panels about the aircraft flying low overhead. But it’s also home to a plethora of young blossom trees and, with its wooden tables and grassy areas, is a highly popular picnic spot.

LANG NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK

This tiny park, tucked behind the city centre’s Richmond Public Market, is a hidden gem hotspot for blossom fans. Grab a tasty sweet pastry inside the market, then head outside for a seat at one of the alfresco tables. If your timing is right, the clutch of mature blossom trees will be in full swing and stray petals will be drifting on the air like a walk-in snow globe.

MINORU PARK

A popular nature enclave in the heart of the city, Minoru Park is home to some well-established blossom trees as well as lots of fragrant flowerbeds and ponds that attract a variety of birdlife. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the park and consider taking some photos near Minoru Chapel.

Springtime at Minoru Park. | Photo: Tourism Richmond

NO. 1 ROAD, BETWEEN RIVER ROAD AND WESTMINSTER HWY

It’s never a bad idea to take a springtime stroll along the scenic Middle Arm Dyke Trail; you’ll spot birds, colourful wildflowers and some intriguing public artworks. But if you divert from the trail at No. 1 Road, you can also discover around 20 large and colourful Akebono trees just waiting for their photo close-ups.

RIVERPORT SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX

Head to the Riverport Sports and Entertainment Complex and you’ll find a host of cherry trees framing the parking lot in front of Watermania (a popular aquatic attraction), and along the SilverCity Riverport Cinemas building. 

Need more info?

Check out the handy Vancouver cherry blossom map, and use ‘Richmond’ as your search filter. And remember to stick to the unofficial blossom-watching code: don’t pick or damage the blooms and don’t venture into anyone’s yard while you’re snapping your spring-tastic floral shots.

Finally, we’d love to see your photos! Please share your favourite images with us via social media, using the hashtag #RichmondMoments.

Last Updated on March 23, 2023 by Tourism Richmond