The stage has been set for Symphony Splash’s 25th anniversary celebrations next year.
As tradition would have it, the Victoria Symphony started playing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, as this year’s 24th annual Symphony Splash wrapped up.
Fireworks exploded over the Songhees and the crowd — some had unfolded their front-row seats before 6 a.m. — cheered.
With that extravaganza over, MacPherson’s Lament was played, and then the piping of Amazing Grace closed this year’s Symphony Splash.
Crowd estimates were as high as 40,000 as people filled the Inner Harbour on land and sea.
Matt Ullerick, 20, and Niall Rowe, 19, secured their front-row seats at 6:10 a.m. — and they were not the first ones to arrive. They rate Symphony Splash as one of Victoria’s hands-down best events.
Joanna Wilkinson said she delights in watching the young performers such as soloists Carter Johnson and Eric Manning, who performed Sunday night.
“I find it so inspiring,” Wilkinson said. “It’s a wonderful event. It’s a tradition and a family event and I love that it showcases local young people.”
Sandi Carson brought her 15-year-old son Joe Knox. The last time she attended she didn’t have children and she arrived in a kayak.
“I thought it’s about time, and I wanted to bring my son,” Carson said. Mother and son snagged Inner Harbour seats just 30 minutes before the performance began.
Nancy Gullason was gushing, seeing her city at its finest. “It’s stunning isn’t it,” she said, looking around her. “It’s so wonderful. Tourists are enjoying a place we get to live in. It gives you a new perspective of the city.”
Earlier in the day, the crowds were equally enthusiastic.
On Belleville Street, with the legislature behind them and the ocean-front stage before them, Steve Hutchings was swinging his wife Rachel Chang as the couple danced to the Chris Millington band. “We’re living the dream,” said Chang.
Police hesitated to say how well-behaved and polite the crowds were for fear of jinxing the night.
Splash volunteer Pamela Tapp had walked around the legislature lawns, the Inner Harbour, and finished inspecting the Fairmont Empress Hotel lawns and only had a few tissues in her garbage bag to show for it. “It’s always like this,” Tapp said.
Victoria police said they had no major incidents to report.
However, a power outage just as Splash ended darkened some downtown traffic lights and led to one crash at an intersection.
A motorcycle collided into the back of another motorcycle at Douglas and Chatham Streets around 10:30 p.m., Victoria police Staff Sgt. Tom Sawyer said.
The intersection lights were dark because of the power outage, and one of the motorcycles had stopped to allow another vehicle to pass, Sawyer said.
The second motorcycle collided into the back of the first, he said.
One driver suffered a possible broken hip.
The power outage started at 9:46 p.m. after birds hit a downtown power line, B.C. Hydro said. About 1,000 customers were affected. Power was restored at 11:09 p.m.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
