Waterwheel Park in Chemainus is the summer home of Music In the Park, presented by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society (CVCAS), now celebrating its 25th anniversary season. All events are by donation, and organizers encourage you to bring your own chair — here’s the full July calendar for the bandshell.
Canada Day Celebrations — Wednesday, July 1, 11am–4pm
Chemainus Valley Blues Festival — 2-day event, 2pm start Saturday, July 4: Cool Azul (2pm), The Smokin Hot Toasters (3:15pm), Lazy Mike and the Argyle Jets (4:30pm), Mark Crissinger Band (5:45pm), David Gogo (7pm) Sunday, July 5: Chris Noel & Burning House (2pm), Doug Cox & Steve Mitchell (3:15pm), Swang Thang (4:30pm), Bill Johnson Blues Band (5:45pm), Brandon Isaak (7pm) Suggested donation $25/day
Caleb Hart — Tuesday, July 7, 7pm. Caribbean music fusion with influences from all around the world.
Our Lady of the Rockies Marching Band — Friday, July 10, 1:30pm. Student marching band out of Calgary, Alberta.
Capital City Syncopators — Tuesday, July 14, 7pm. Victoria’s finest prohibition-era jazz band, playing 1920s swing and vintage-inspired originals.
Chemainus Valley Bluegrass Extravaganza & Festival — Saturday, July 18. Boomer Boyd Bluegrass Ensemble (1pm), 5 on a String (2pm), Clover Point Drifters (3pm), The Mighty Teardrops (4pm), Hardly Handsome (5pm). Suggested donation $25.
Gospel with Sweet Harmony, followed by Country Festival — Sunday, July 19, 11am. The Drivers (1pm), Mike Mallon and Al Medcalf (2pm), Cactus Cadillacs (3pm).
Soul Shakers — Tuesday, July 21, 7pm. High energy, feel good music — classic soul, Motown, R&B, blues & pop.
Cookeilidh — Tuesday, July 28, 7pm. Traditional and modernized Celtic tunes featuring 12-string guitar, fiddle, Irish flute, electric bass, bodhran and vocals.
From the opening show through the last act on September 1, there are 17 events in this year’s two-month Waterwheel Park calendar, spanning blues, reggae, marching bands, jazz, bluegrass, gospel, Celtic, country, rockabilly and folk. For the full season lineup, visit cvcas.ca/events.