Performers light up Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

People attend Blossoms After Dark at David Lam Park in Vancouver on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Heather Chapin)

 Attendees of the Blossoms After Dark event at David Lam Park on Saturday night found themselves navigating through darkness, despite organizers’ promises of lighting throughout the park. The evening event, part of the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, took place on March 29. 

According to the festival’s website, organizers said, “Blossoms After Dark will be bigger than ever with an expanded footprint, lighting around the entire perimeter of the park, more food offerings, and the first-ever Blossom Lounge.”

People Pose under a blow-up igloo at Blossoms After Dark at Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival in David Lam Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo By Heather Chapin)

while the perimeter was illuminated as advertised, many attendees noted a significant lack of lighting and activities in the interior sections of the park.

A few glowing art installations dotted the field, but most of the park’s interior remained dimly lit. Many visitors relied on phone flashlights to navigate between displays, raising concerns about accessibility and safety.

Performers at the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival at Blossoms after dark on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Photo by Heather Chapin)

Despite the lighting issues, some installations still drew crowds. A circle of spectators gathered around an impromptu dance performance near the centre of the park, which seemed to fill some of the gaps of lighting.