The Symphony in the Summer Festival is the new name for the Symphony Splash event which features live music with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
Symphony Splash used to include evening fireworks in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on the BC Day long weekend.
In 2022 there was no Symphony Splash event. Instead there was the “Splash Around Town” concert series at the end of July. In 2023 the event was renamed again. It’s now called the Symphony in the Summer Festival and it’s a multiday series of events that usually runs from late July until early August.
This article contains the following information about the festival:
Symphony in the Summer Schedule | Tips and Advice | About the Orchestra and Festival | Other Information
Symphony in the Summer Festival
Symphony in the Summer is one of Victoria’s premier summer festivals. Formerly known as Symphony Splash, the one-day event has now turned into a multiday series of performances.
The highlight and primary focus of the series is the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. There used to be food trucks, a beer garden, market vendors and fireworks in previous years. That no longer appears to be the case. However, there are multiple concerts to enjoy when the event takes place again this summer between July and August.
2023 Schedule
Symphony in the Summer featured three ticketed events and two free events in 2023. The festival began on Thursday, July 27th, and continued until Saturday, August 5th. The concerts that required paid tickets cost up to about $60 per person.
The full festival schedule for 2023 is listed below. Festival details for 2024 are to be confirmed.
- July 27th, 2023 – VS at Christ Church Cathedral started at 7:30 pm at 930 Burdett Avenue. Tickets cost about $50 each.
- July 28th, 2023 – Mozart and Martinis at The Atrium kicked off at 5:00 pm at 800 Yates Street. The show cost about $60 to attend.
- July 29th, 2023 – VS at Market Square was a free show at 560 Johnson Street. The performance started at 4:00 pm.
- August 3rd, 2023 – VS at The Butchart Gardens was held outdoors at the beautiful Butchart Gardens. The show started at 8:00 pm and was included with general admission.
- August 4th & 5th, 2023 – Symphony and Opera at the Cameron Bandshell was held at 250 Bridge Way at Beacon Hill Park. The concerts began at 5:00 pm on the Friday and 4:00 pm on the Saturday. Admission was free.
Tips & Advice
Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your Symphony in the Summer Festival experience.
TIP #1: For the free shows, take your own chair or blanket to sit on, plus something warm to put on after the sun goes down.
TIP #2: If it’s a hot day, be sure to take a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and lots of water. There’s not a lot of shade at some of the locations.
TIP #3: If going early to claim a spot with your chairs and/or blanket, take a good book to read, friends to talk to and even a game to play (especially if you have children) while you wait.
About the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Splash
The Victoria Symphony Orchestra is, as the name suggests, a symphony orchestra based in Victoria, BC. Founded in 1941, it’s an impressive orchestra for a city of Victoria’s size.
Symphony Splash, now known as Symphony in the Summer, is a fundraising festival for the Symphony. As a result, expect to see lots of volunteers with donation boxes and cans wandering around the site asking for donations most years. Funds raised usually benefit the Orchestra and its various programs.
Other Information
To learn more about the event, see the Symphony in the Summer website.
For a list of other concerts performed by the symphony see the Victoria Symphony Orchestra website.
To learn more about the organization behind the event, see our article about the Victoria Symphony.
For a list of events at other times of the year, see our Victoria Events Calendar.
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