Tens of thousands of people lined the Inner Harbour - some with lawn chairs and blankets, others in their kayaks and boats - to take in Symphony Splash on Sunday.
The 23rd annual showcase of classical music featured the Victoria Symphony playing on a barge. It kicked off with the Inner Harbour Overture, which blended orchestra playing with a medley of Inner Harbour sounds - from the MV Coho ferry horn to the chiming of the carillon.
It was production volunteer David Wilkinson's favourite part.
Wilkinson, who along with other volunteers transformed the barge into a floating stage for the Victoria Symphony, had to stay up long after the show's 10 p.m. finale with fireworks to clean up and stow gear.
Seeing people enjoy the show was the wonderful payoff for all the hard work, he said. "It's a labour of love," he said.
The performance attracted more than just locals. John Radford, who was with his family on the legislature lawn, drove up from Portland, Oregon.
Radford said after he had cornered a spot and set up a small tent for shade, he spoke to his lawn neighbours, who turned out to be from Boston.
"They flew in for it," he said. "The word is out on this cultural event."
It was the sixth Symphony Splash for Radford, who is always surprised by the number of young people who attend.
"You have 14-, 15-, 16-year-olds actually applauding," he said.
This year, organizers extended the hours of the Family Zone, an area complete with a bouncy castle and a place to try out instruments.
Dance instructors from the Arthur Murray School of Dance were on hand to get people moving to the live music.
"We had people dancing in the streets - it was great," said Bethany Wilson, director of marketing and sales for Victoria Symphony.
The performance included selections that pay tribute to places in Victoria, celebrating the city's 150th year.
Many people enjoyed the show from the water, including Berkeley Merrill, who brought his boat from Texas for the third year in a row.
"It's spectacularly unique. Nobody else does this kind of show," Merrill said as he watched the performance.
Earlier Sunday, he marvelled as the volunteers moved the barge into the Inner Harbour.
The production team, led by Tom Fijal, starts assembling the stage on the barge farther down the harbour and then tows it past the Johnson Street Bridge into the Inner Harbour.
Charles Wood, a production volunteer for 12 years, said it takes about two-andhalf long days to build the floating stage.
The performance atop the barge isn't just for fans of classical music.
"Everyone who comes has an appreciation for beautiful music, an appreciation for our symphony," he said.
You can check out timelapse photographs of the barge's construction at tinyurl.com/splashstage. [email protected] [email protected]
