{{Short description|Annual event in British Columbia, Canada}} thumb|Victoria Symphony Splash '''Victoria Symphony Splash''' is an annual event held in Victoria, British Columbia on the Sunday before British Columbia Day. The event is produced by the Victoria Symphony and consists of the Victoria Symphony playing, live on a barge, in the middle of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Also included in the event is a very large fireworks display, as well as live cannon fire, during the 1812 Overture.
The free event leads to about 40,000 spectators gathered around the Victoria waterfront, as well as on the grounds of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and The Empress Hotel. It is one of the largest annual symphony events in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriasymphony.ca/splash/faq/|title=Victoria Symphony Splash FAQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210152454/http://victoriasymphony.ca/splash/faq/ |archive-date=10 December 2013}}</ref> Hundreds of people gather in boats and kayaks to watch the concert. Each year, a young soloist is a featured performer with the orchestra.
The event in 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria Symphony Cancels Symphony Splash 2020 - Victoria Symphony |url=https://victoriasymphony.ca/news/victoria-symphony-cancels-symphony-splash-2020/ |website=victoriasymphony.ca |access-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517150248/https://victoriasymphony.ca/news/victoria-symphony-cancels-symphony-splash-2020/ |archive-date=17 May 2022}}</ref> The 2021 event was also cancelled.<ref name="SAT" /> In 2022, the event was replaced with a ten-day "Splash Around Town" music festival.<ref name="SAT">{{cite web |last1=Burchell |first1=Mariah |title=Annual Symphony Splash event replaced with ten-day 'Splash Around Town' music festival |url=https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2022/05/annual-symphony-splash-event-replaced-with-ten-day-splash-around-town-music-festival/ |website=Victoria Buzz |access-date=18 June 2024 |date=19 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Eric |title=Victoria Symphony Splash promises 'huge variety' in new summer concert series |url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-symphony-splash-promises-huge-variety-in-new-summer-concert-series-1.5998940 |website=Vancouver Island |access-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722223421/https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-symphony-splash-promises-huge-variety-in-new-summer-concert-series-1.5998940 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |language=en |date=22 July 2022}}</ref> The full event is returning in 2025. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Devlin |first1=Mike |title=Symphony Splash to return to Inner Harbour this summer |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/symphony-splash-to-return-to-inner-harbour-this-summer-10287234 |website=Times Colonist |access-date=7 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406012007/https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/symphony-splash-to-return-to-inner-harbour-this-summer-10287234 |archive-date=6 April 2025 |language=en |date=26 Feb 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.victoriasymphony.ca/ Victoria Symphony] *[http://www.victoriasymphony.ca/splash/ Victoria Symphony Splash]
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Category:Organized events in Victoria, British Columbia Category:Music festivals in British Columbia Category:Tourist attractions in Victoria, British Columbia Category:Classical music festivals in Canada