Spring has sprung across the Lower Mainland, and the final weekend of March brings plenty of things to see and do. Here are some events you may want to check out. Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is back for its 20th year, with major events starting Friday and running through April 17. This weekend’s highlights include “Blossoms After Dark” on Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and “The Big Picnic” Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both of those events, as well as boat tours and tree talks, are centred around David Lam Park in Yaletown. Blossoms After Dark and The Big Picnic are free to attend. A schedule of events for the rest of the festival can be found on the VCBF website. Monster Jam A weekend of mechanical mayhem awaits at the Pacific Coliseum, where Monster Jam returns for shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Midday shows on Saturday and Sunday will be preceded by a Pit Party, offering a chance to meet drivers, see massive trucks up close and learn more about what it takes to keep the 12,000-pound vehicles competition-ready. Schedule and ticket information can be found on the Monster Jam website. Vancouver International Auto Show Billed as “Western Canada’s premier automotive experience,” the Vancouver International Auto Show has taken over the Vancouver Convention Centre’s west building since Wednesday. Offering contests, test drives, supercar displays, exhibitions from major automakers and dealers, and more, the show is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Visit the show’s website for more information. The Magic Festival Illusionists, mind readers and masters of sleight of hand have taken over New Westminster this week for The Magic Festival. Performances began at various venues around the city on Monday, but several more are scheduled for Thursday through Sunday. The full schedule and ticket information can be found on the festival’s website. Two VSO shows The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will be busy with three performances this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, the VSO Pops series tackles "Disco Divas," with three powerhouse vocalists joining the orchestra for a program of disco hits. On Sunday, the VSO Kids Concert series continues with Platypus Theatre’s "Bach to the Future." This show will also be preceded by the VSO School of Music Playzone, an opportunity for kids to try out instruments in the lobby of the Orpheum Theatre before the performance. Gateway Theatre presents: Wildwoman Richmond’s Gateway Theatre opens its production of Kat Sandler’s “Wildwoman” this weekend, with a preview performance on Thursday night and opening night on Friday. The play tells the story of Catherine de Medici in the early days of her marriage to France’s King Henry II, and her attraction to a “wildman” kept in the king’s dungeon. Wildwoman runs through April 4 and a full schedule of performances and ticket information can be found on the theatre’s website.
