IN CONCERT
What: Victoria Symphony Splash
Where: Inner Harbour barge
When: Sunday, Aug. 6, concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Admission: By donation ($5 suggested)
The news is, well … rather refreshing. For the first time in its 28-year history, there will be a beer and wine garden at the Victoria Symphony Splash.
“The biggest change this year is our beverage garden. Or family-friendly licensed area,” said Janette Galan, the Splash’s onshore production manager.
Thirsty music lovers can swig beer and wine within a gated-off area on Belleville Street between Government and Douglas streets. The beverage garden, which holds up to 500 people, will be open between 3 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. Food will be available.
“That allows us to have it family-friendly. So parents can come in, bring their children, have a bit to eat, have a little glass of wine,” Galan said.
Kathryn Laurin, the orchestra’s CEO, says she doesn’t know why it took 25-plus years to bring booze (at least, officially) to the Symphony Splash.
“There was no trepidation for the beer garden, but the [symphony] board ensured that we did our due diligence,” she said.
As in previous years, about 40,000 people are expected at the Symphony Splash, one of North America’s biggest outdoor symphony concerts. Once again, the Victoria Symphony will perform a full concert on a 12-by-43-metre Seaspan Barge. And once again, there will be fireworks.
Laurin declined to disclose the event’s budget, other than saying it’s a “six-figure” price tag. Generated revenue doesn’t come close to meeting its costs, she added.
With this in mind, 22 red donation barrels will be on hand, overseen by some of the 375 volunteers working the event. Contributions are not mandatory, but $5 donations are encouraged. Those who give that amount or more receive a Splash button.
Two often-asked questions regarding the Symphony Splash are: How do you get a good seat and what’s the parking situation?
Given the size of the audience, Galan encourages Splash-goers to take the bus, walk or bike. For those who prefer to drive, the best bet is to park farther away from the Inner Harbour and walk the rest of the way. Finding street parking in the immediate Inner Harbour area is unlikely, Galan says, especially since there will be closures.
As for saving seats, the City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority requests that no one claim spaces before 8 a.m. on Sunday. Galan says that in past years, some keeners have been known to arrive as early as sunrise.
For hard-core Splash addicts, the best sightlines are directly in front of the floating stage, which faces the corner of Government and Belleville streets. For families seeking a less crowded, more relaxed experience, Galan suggests placing a blanket on the front lawn of the legislature. The sightlines might not be perfect, but the sound will still be good, she says.
For those willing to pay, the Victoria Symphony provides reserved bleacher seating for 250 on Belleville Street in front of the legislature. The best seats — higher up, thus providing a view — are $50, $75 and $100 (they can be purchased by phoning 250-385-6515). The cheaper seats, which are lower down, range from $5 to $20. They can be purchased on site on the day of the concert.
The new V2V passenger ferry service also offers bleacher seating on its wharf, located to the audience’s left. The 40 available are $100 each, with proceeds going to the Victoria Symphony.
For those bringing children, there is a family activity zone 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the south-end grounds of the Fairmont Empress hotel. It includes a bouncy castle, crafts, a clown and an obstacle course. There’s also an “instrument petting zoo” where children can try out instruments loaned by Long & McQuade.
At noon, a cadet band will perform at the legislature steps. The Naden Band plays at 4 p.m. on the barge. After a short speech by Mayor Lisa Helps, the Victoria Symphony orchestra will begin its traditional parade, marching down Belleville Street toward the barge. The orchestra will start performing on the barge at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be capped by Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with fireworks and naval cannon blasts.
The barge’s sound system is provided by Vancouver’s Kian Concert Sound Services. The company, which has provided this service for two decades, also does sound for the Vancouver Symphony and the Commodore Ballroom.
The Splash’s technical director, Anton Skinner, oversees the two-minute fireworks display. He said there will be 600 “bombs” from China, Spain and Mexico. His favourites are the “sparkling willows,” which “fill the sky with a golden glitter.”
Managing the fireworks (by the way, they’re activated with a simple 12-volt RV battery) sounds fun.
But Skinner’s job isn’t all glamour. His duties include ensuring the Seaspan barge is cleared of bird dung before the musicians clamber aboard in their tuxedos.
“I’ve got to get a salt-water pump out there and pump out a quarter-inch of seagull crap. It’s absolutely covered — I did a recon the other day. I’ll probably be out in my gumboots,” he said.
The Victoria Symphony’s new music director, Christian Kluxen, was pleased to hear that the Splash will finally get its first beverage garden. The Danish conductor notes that beer and wine quaffing at outdoor concerts is a long-accepted tradition in Europe.
“There, it’s much more a natural thing. If you sit down at a festival or outdoor summer event, you have a glass of wine or you have a beer or something. And you eat some cheese and sausage, have some fun like that,” he said.
