Victoria’s beloved Symphony SPLASH! festival is making its triumphant return this summer after a five-year hiatus.
This year’s Symphony SPLASH! will mark a special occasion for the Victoria Symphony as well, as the organization celebrates their 85th anniversary.
This free, iconic event takes place in Victoria’s Inner Harbour over the BC Day long weekend on August 2nd and 3rd and will showcase a diverse range of musical acts and styles, with musicians taking the stage on a barge floating in the waters near the BC legislature.
This event is coming back thanks to a $250,000 investment by the current Victoria city council, who have been trying to make an effort in reviving parts of the local music and arts scene that has been struggling since the pandemic.
City Councillor Jeremy Caradonna says that he is thrilled to have the festival coming back and to have had the opportunity to champion this event making its return.
“Working with the Victoria Symphony, we have now transformed the event into a two-day musical extravaganza,” said Caradonna in an online post.
“One day will feature classical music, both from the Victoria Symphony and the National Youth Orchestra, and the other day will feature diverse nationally-significant musical acts, including Sal Ferreras and his Latin Jazz Sextet and Indigenous singers and Juno-award winners Caleigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish.”
He added that the idea behind bringing Symphony SPLASH! back was to give residents and visitors the opportunity to experience and enjoy the city with a free-to-attend event that might appeal to a wide audience.
Be sure to mark your calendars and get out to see this beloved festival re-enter the fold and bring more music into the downtown core this summer.
