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Sakura Illumination 2015 at Charleston Park

The Sakura Illumination that took place at Charleston Park tonight was a truly magical experience.

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When I got there shortly before 8:00pm, it wasn’t dark yet. The lanterns were turned on and the two Tree Fairies performers were rehearsing their dance routine celebrating the arrival of spring.

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When the sun was set, the Tree Fairies, Cherri and Blossom, began their beautiful dance accompanied by mesmerizing music. Lights were projected over the white Ukon cherry blossoms.

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When the 10 minute dance routine was over, people were invited to wander around the cherry trees and take pictures of the lanterns.

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The light inside the lanterns changed from white, yellow, blue, green, red.  It was beautiful.

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The lanterns offered a unique view of Ukon cherry blossoms at night.

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After 20 minutes of admiring the lanterns and wandering under cherry blossoms, spectators were asked to return to the viewing area for the next dance performance by Cherri and Blossom.

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I moved to get a wide shot.  From the back row, even though you couldn’t see the dance performance, you could see the beautiful lanterns, the light show, and hear the music.

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The crowd at the performance was composed of families having picnics, friends, and lots of photographers.  The atmosphere was very friendly. There was about 200 spectators.

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Charleston Park is right next to the seawall. You could see the Granville bridge in the distance.

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Sakura Illumination was created by Stuart James W. from HFour.  I really liked how they allowed spectators to get up and wander under the trees between performances, making this a truly immersive experience.

‘Yozakura’ (cherry blossom viewing at night) has been done in Japan for many centuries. Seeing our beautiful Vancouver cherry blossom illuminated was a unique experience — made even more special by the fact that this year, Sakura Illumination was a ‘one-night only’ event.

Photo credit: Jessica Tremblay

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Illumination Tour (April 24)

Sakura Illuminatino tour

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Illumination Tour video

Sakura Illumination Tour 2013

Check out this video of the Sakura Illumination Tour uploaded by Stuart Ward from hfour design.

The Sakura Illumination Tour is a mobile night time installation which will illuminate various cherry blossom sites in public parks and beaches while in full bloom. Using LED and patterned video lights, Stuart Ward of Hfour Design illuminated cherry blossom trees with his sensory projection artwork. The single night quality reflects the tempo of the blossoms, and their varying bloom times. The unique experience will create an intangible memory of a time and place never to be duplicated.

The light show will be a reminder that if you don’t stop, if you don’t pull over to see what is happening, you’ll miss it because it won’t be there tomorow. Life is brief and beauty does not last and life can pass you by if you don’t seize the moment.

The Sakura Illumination Tour will follow the peak bloom of our cherry trees and is dependent on the weather. Consult the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival page to learn where Sakura Illumination will pop up next and the VCBF Facebook page for latest updates!

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Illumination at Queen Elizabeth Park

Sakura Illumination Tour April 8 2013

How to get there: Off Cambie at 33rd there’s a parking lot or park on the street then walk up hill as if going to Bloedel Conservatory and we’ll be on your left at the crest of the hill.

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Illumination Tour

Master Kawazu and Kaeru from Old Pond Comics admire cherry blossoms at night (yozakura)

I’m so glad the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is presenting a new program called Sakura Illumination tour that will feature cherry blossom viewing at night (called yozakura in Japanese).

The Sakura Illumination Tour is a mobile night time installation which will illuminate various cherry blossom sites in public parks and beaches while in full bloom. Stuart Ward of Hfour Design will use projectors and lanterns to illuminate a few trees at a time with his sensory projection artwork. The single night quality reflects the tempo of the blossoms, and their varying bloom times.

The Sakura Illumination Tour will follow the peak bloom of our cherry trees April 4-30, between 8:30pm-10:30pm  and is dependent on the weather. Check out the VCBF website for location and showtime or click the picture below.

Sakura Illumination tour