The cherry blossoms in High Park in Toronto will be in peak bloom this weekend!

See 2,000 cherry trees in full bloom this weekend!

The park is open 24/7.

There is no charge to enter the park. It is free for everyone.

Plan your trip:

High Park is a no-car zone this year during the Cherry Blossom Festival

Directions: Getting there on public transit

Subway: Get off at High Park station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line.The park’s north entrance is a two minute walk from the station. Turn right when you exit the station, cross Bloor Street and enter the park. There are signs in the station, pointing the way to the Cherry Blossom Festival and people to direct you if you are confused, but really, all you need to do is follow the crowds.

Streetcar: Take the 508 Lakeshore streetcar and get off at the Parkside or Colborne Lodge stops or take the 506 Carlton streetcar all the way to the High Park loop by Parkside Drive.

Bus: Take the 80 Queensway bus route which runs between Keele subway station and Sherway Gardens. Get off at the Howard Park Avenue stop on Parkside Road.

You can take the Cherry Blossom Express in High Park

It is $3.00 for a one-way ticket along the cherry blossom route; $5.00 for a return trip.

Toronto LOVES the Cherry Blossom Festival!

The first blossom on a cherry tree in Toronto signals the end of another long, cold, dark winter. We also had a cold, wet spring this year so the cherry blossoms are late.

Cherry blossoms are revered as the symbolic flower of spring, a time of renewal and new beginnings.

This is the Perfect Year to see the cherry blossoms in High Park

This year, Toronto is celebrating the 60th anniversary of cherry blossoms in High Park

In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada presented 2,000 trees to the people of Toronto on behalf of the people of Tokyo. This was their way of thanking Toronto for welcoming Japanese-Canadian refugees after World War II.

For the past 60 years, Toronto has been celebrating the century old Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami, or “cherry blossom flower viewing.”

More trees were planted in High Park and other neighbourhoods in Toronto under the Sakura Project that celebrates the continued friendship between Toronto and the people of Japan.

If you want to avoid the crowds, you can also see more than 1,150 cherry blossom trees at 14 other spots around the city: http://www.toronto.ca/cherryblossoms.

Hello Spring!

When the cherry blossoms bloom, people in Toronto come out of hibernation and set out in search of sun and cherry blossoms … and thousands of people are flocking to High Park this week to celebrate this annual fête to spring.

Pretty in Pink

For me, High Park is the place to go to see the cherry blossoms: 2,000 trees in bloom is a spectacular site. I also like the crowds. People are so happy to be out in the fresh air, enjoying a beautiful day in a park. Couples, friends and families have picnics, play music, stroll along the water … and take selfies, thousands and thousands of selfies.

I asked strangers if they would pose for the blog and they were happy to share their smiles

Lots of people dress up for their day in the sun and cherry blossoms

This Japanese model shared her stunning traditional costume

This is another view of her traditional costume

There is lots to see and do in High Park ….

This couple posed in the forsythia blooms

This couple also loved the forsythia blooms

Even a Japanese dog posed for the blog!

This is an Akita pup. He is only 7 months old and perfectly trained to sit and pose.

The Akita pup gave us a second pose before he scrambled back to his owner

You can stroll down to Grenadier Pond to see the resident swan

Don’t get too close to a swan!

This boy backed up quickly when the swan gave him The Look

You can see ducks in their native habitat

On your way out, look for the carving in the cherry tree

Time to head home and say goodbye to the cherry blossoms for another year

Wherever you live, I hope you can say hello to spring with some cherry blossoms