Sunday, July 31 marks the date for the 22nd annual edition of the Victoria Symphony Splash, an amazing event that takes over Victoria’s Inner Harbour and attracts over 60,000 people for a day of music and fun. This year’s program celebrates the 100th anniversary of BC Parks, and includes a Splash Family Zone (complete with bouncy castles and an instrument petting zoo), a street dance with the Timebenders, an orchestra parade (which gives the audience a chance to see their musical heroes up close as they make their way to the barge), and the salute guns of the Canadian Navy.

Splash isn’t just any old outdoor concert, either. Victoria Symphony Music Director Tania Miller makes a special point of celebrating Victoria’s outstanding young artists, and this year has selected not only the “traditional” Splash Young Soloist (this year, 11 year-old violinist Alice Haekyo Lee), but also the very first Splash Young Composer (18 year-old Jared Richardson).

And how is it paid for? The Victoria Symphony has made a concerted effort to diversify its funding sources for the annual event through corporate sponsorship, the “Band of Heroes” program (which enables small businesses and individuals to collectively support the marquee event), and onsite donations through the purchase of Splash buttons.

Victoria Symphony Splash is the grand finale of two weeks of outdoor concerts taking place from July 19th to 31st. Symphony in the Summer includes four performances by the full orchestra, and an additional eight performances by small ensembles from the orchestra. These concerts take place at Butchart Gardens, Beacon Hill Park, several of the city’s squares, the Legislative Steps, the Lawn of the Fairmont Empress and the Inner Harbour.