During March and April I will be featuring a Cherry Blossom Photo of the Day, sourced from the Miss604 Flickr Pool and/or the #Photos604 tag on Instagram. You can barely walk a full block in the city without encountering a photographer capturing this pink blooms — or stopping yourself — so it’s the perfect time to start this series. Enjoy!

Lane near Buchanan Street and Rosser Street in Burnaby. Photo credit: Rochelle on Flickr

View more photography posts on Miss604 along with the Vancouver Photos of the Week – and be sure to tag your photos with #Photos604!

Party for the Planet, BC’s largest Earth Day event returns to Surrey City Hall on Saturday, April 25th with free family fun all day long.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt for Miss604

Surrey Party for the Planet

Attended by over 25,000 last year, Party for the Planet is adding more activities and entertainment to the lineup this year with things to do both inside City Hall and outside on the plaza.

Surrey’s Party for the Planet, presented by TD, will showcase some of the most popular bands in Canada. Headlining the event is Five Alarm Funk. Five Alarm Funk’s high energy performances feature gruff funk vocals, psychedelic rock guitars, Balkan-inspired horns, intricate arrangements, and a few well timed explosions. The band will release Abandon Earth, their fifth studio album, on June 7th. The concept album, describing the destruction of planet Earth by a giant robot, is the culmination of 10 years of touring and the nine musicians’ love for high octane, delirium-inducing dance music.

The event will also showcase local band, Good for Grapes. The band recently wrapped up their third Canadian tour, supporting their new single “Skipping Stone”, which has received airplay on CBC and radio stations across the country. Good for Grapes has gained national traction on the strength of their debut album: a recording that captures their energetic stage presence, bombastic rhythms, and tight harmonies.

The YVR Global Stage will be located in Council Chambers, inside Surrey City Hall, and will offer environmental speakers and popular family entertainers including: children’s singer Charlotte Diamond, cartoon superstar Curious George and reptiles from Urban Safari Rescue.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt for Miss604

Additional attractions at this year’s event will include: Sustainability House, a Birds of Prey Demonstration, Surrey’s Urban Farmer’s Market, the annual tree and native plant sale, rock climbing wall and the Salmon Parade.

Party for the Planet takes place Saturday April 25, 2015 from 10:00am to 6:00pm at Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey. It is accessible by transit (Surrey Centre Station) and a bike valet will be on site.

The Tulips of the Valley Festival in Agassiz opens for the season on April 1st, with millions of bright and beautiful petals blanketing the valley below majestic Mount Cheam.

Tulips of the Valley Festival in Agassiz

My first visit to this spectacular site was back in 2009 and I’ve returned to enjoy the stunning sights and scenes in this lovely 40 acre pocket of the Fraser Valley.

You only have about two weeks to enjoy the Tulips of the Valley Festival, which ends April 12th unless the weather cooperates to extend the event, and there’s plenty to do once you get there. Enjoy fresh Dutch Stroopwafels, Bannock, and several vendors from the local Agassiz Farmers market including Tasty Chicken and Honeyview farms. Stop by the store to buy your fresh cut greenhouse tulips, potted flowers and photo cards, and be sure to pose for photos when among the flowers.

Tulip Festival Hours
April 1st to April 12th, 2015
Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Friday: 12:00 to 6:30pm
Saturday to Sunday: 9:00am to 6:30pm
Mondays and Tuesdays: Closed
Holiday Weekend Hours (Friday to Monday): 9:00am to 6:30pm

Location
3971 Lougheed Highway, Agassiz, BC
In past years the parking area has been about 1km away from the fields, so be prepared for some walking. To put this in perspective, it would be like walking from Davie to Georgia in Downtown Vancouver — it’s not that far and is very worth it, but just be aware. Bring boots and shoes that can get muddy in the fields too, along with a warm coat for the rain or wind, and of course your camera to take photos.

Admission
Cash only. Weekend Admission (including holiday weekends) is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, free for kids 12 and under. Groups of then or more are $4 per adult. Weekday Admission (excluding holidays) is $3 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, and kids 12 and under are free. Weekday groups of ten or more are $2.50 per adult.

Parking is $10 cash on weekends and holidays, $5 cash weekdays per vehicle paid at the designated parking lot. To park tour buses it’s $10 (small) and $15 (large).

Photo credit: Gemy on Flickr

Fresh Cut Tulips
Located at 1694 Tranmer Road in Agassiz, the tulip stand is open daily from dawn to dusk, now until Mother’s Day 2015. Follow the festival on Facebook for more information.

Interested in checking out two tulip festivals this season? Read more about the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival as well. It’s just over the border and we have enjoyed visiting both of these events every year.

Tickets are now on sale for the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards, coming up on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Earlier this month the nominees were announced with a near record-setting number of remarkable women recognized for their contributions to their workplace, industry, and community.

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees

Congratulations to all of the nominees in the following categories:

Tickets on Sale Now

Individual tickets
Early bird tickets are on sale until Sunday, April 26 for $225 per person / $2,250 per table. As of Monday, April 27, tickets are $250 per person /$2,500 per table.

Purchase a corporate table or ticket for the annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and your support for women’s leadership and make a positive impact in your community. Whether you are connected to a nominee or not, as someone who has attended many of these events, I can tell you that you’ll find the evening to be inspirational and rewarding.

Community Partner $3,500 (10 tickets):

• 10 tickets to the Announcing the Nominees’ Reception (200 people, invite-only reception for nominees, dignitaries and sponsors on March 11)
• 10 tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner (1,250 people at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 26)
• A listing in the event program book (1,300 distributed)
• A tax receipt for the maximum allowable amount as per CRA regulations

Distinguished Partner $3,000 (10 tickets):

• 10 tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner (1,250 people at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 26)
• A listing in the event program book (1,300 distributed)
• A tax receipt for the maximum allowable amount as per CRA regulations

The 2015 awards ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 26th at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information along with the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards @YWVanWODA on Twitter.

YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities.

During March and April I will be featuring a Cherry Blossom Photo of the Day, sourced from the Miss604 Flickr Pool and/or the #Photos604 tag on Instagram. You can barely walk a full block in the city without encountering a photographer capturing this pink blooms — or stopping yourself — so it’s the perfect time to start this series. Enjoy!

View more photography posts on Miss604 along with the Vancouver Photos of the Week – and be sure to tag your photos with #Photos604!