Symphony Splash, Annual outdoor music festival in Victoria, Canada
Symphony Splash is an annual outdoor concert where an orchestra performs from a floating stage in Victoria's Inner Harbour. Audiences watch from the shoreline, blankets on the waterfront, or directly from the water in their own boats and kayaks.
The event started in 1990 as a smaller gathering and grew into a major annual festival. Over the decades it became an established summer tradition that draws large crowds to the harbor.
The concert brings people together to experience orchestral music from the water in a shared public space, creating a sense of connection through classical and contemporary works. Locals and visitors sit side by side on blankets and boats, with the music carrying across the harbor in an open, informal setting.
You can enter from multiple locations around the harbor, whether from the shore or by bringing a boat. Using public transportation is recommended since parking is limited in the area.
During the performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, the orchestra fires real cannons while boats and kayaks drift in the surrounding waters. This dramatic moment creates an unusual experience that stays with audiences long after the final notes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
