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Brentwood festival, Music in the Park all set for summer

Aside from a few housekeeping details, it’s business as usual for the Brentwood Bay Revitalization Committee this year.
Shaky Ground
Shaky Ground

Aside from a few housekeeping details, it’s business as usual for the Brentwood Bay Revitalization Committee this year.

The group held their annual general meeting March 5 to discuss the success of last year’s events, their financial standing and the slate of upcoming events, and not much is changing, said Ginny Alger, chair of the committee.

The Brentwood Bay Festival is set for June 6, the annual Strawberry Dance opens its doors June 20 and Music in the Park kicks off its weekly concerts July 8.

The festival brings in 4,000 to 5,000 people to the community throughout the day, said Alger, kicked off with a parade and chock full of entertainment, good food and the vendors from the Saanich Peninsula Market.

This year the committee is looking for someone to take over as co-ordinator. “We do have a couple people who are willing to help, but we still need someone to take the lead,” said Alger.

The lineup for Music in the Park — Wednesdays in Pioneer Park — is still being finalized, but the ever-popular Shaky Ground will be the series’ closing band August 19.

The weekly concerts attract about 500 people each, said Alger.

“We get everything from babes in arms to seniors, and people from all over Central Saanich and even Victoria.”

“It’s just a really fun evening, and good entertainment.”

Later in the year, the committee partners with the Grand Cariboo Opry to put on two performances of a spectacular variety show that raises money for the Sidney Lions food bank and Mustard Seed.

Last year’s Opry performances raised $24,000, split between the two food banks.

On the business side of things, the committee is financially stable, said Alger, thanks in large part to dedicated support from the community.

“We get a grant from the district, but that accounts for maybe 20 per cent of what we spend every year,” she said. “The rest is raised through donations. A lot of businesses make donations to us, and a lot of individuals as well. That’s what keeps us going.”

“We couldn’t do what we do without that support.”

For more information, visit brentwoodbay.info.