Pacific Tattoo July 13th!

Pacific Tattoo July 13th!

The Victoria Military Music Festival Society today announced that this summer’s Pacific Tattoo will take place July 13 at 7:30pm and July 14 at 2:00pm, at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC), featuring hundreds of performers from Canada, Europe, Australia and the United States.

Speaking from the SOFMC during a reception for supporters and volunteers, the Chair of the Victoria Military Music Festival Society, Jim Maxwell, announced that the move to Victoria’s downtown arena will increase not only the size of the audience but the scale of the show. “The inaugural Tattoo, held last summer at Bear Mountain Arena, was a great success and the overwhelmingly positive response by our audiences and the performers has made the move to a larger venue a natural progression. We look forward to establishing a home for the Pacific Tattoo at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, to continue to provide exciting family entertainment each summer, far into the future.”

“The Pacific Tattoo showcases military and civilian performers in marching bands, drill teams, dance teams and skills demonstrations”, said Maxwell. “A highlight of the Pacific Tattoo, and of most military Tattoos around the world, is the Massed Pipes and Drums, which this year will feature a line-up 100-strong.”

Maxwell shared a sneak preview of this summer’s show, but stressed that more performers will be announced in the weeks ahead. The two-hour production will include “a celebration of police and fire fighting services, with confirmed participation by the Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums as well as the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band, the Delta Police Pipe Band and our own Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band, and contributions from The Greater Victoria Police/Fire Services Colour Guard, and members of the Victoria Fire Department and the Victoria Police Department”, he said. Brass-reed bands include special guests, the Royal Military Band “Johan Willem Friso” of the Netherlands and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian avy.

Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay/Gordon Head, was one of thousands who attended last year’s show. “The Pacific Tattoo is a festive treat for the eyes and ears!” she declares. “I encourage everyone to come to Western Canada’s Musical Extravaganza this summer.”

Ticket sales for the 2013 Pacific Tattoo begin Saturday, March 2, 2013, at www.selectyourtickets.com, by phone at 250-220-7777, or in person at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard St. in Victoria.

A number of ticket options are offered, priced between $35 and $50, plus tax and service charges, and a special Family Pack is available, in limited supply, in recognition of BC’s first Family Day holiday. “We are offering a Family Pack of four tickets for just $99”, announced Maxwell. “Only 144 Family Packs are available and we are confident that they’ll be snapped up quickly.”

Victoria City Councillor Pam Madoff congratulated the Victoria Military Music Festival Society on behalf of Mayor Fortin and her colleagues on Victoria City Council. ”Based on the international military tattoos in Edinburgh, Basel, and Halifax, BC’s Pacific Tattoo is the only tattoo on the west coast of North America and has the potential to develop into a signature cultural event for the region”, she said. “We look forward to welcoming visiting bands and Tattourists to Victoria. I’m sure the show will delight people of all ages, while reminding everyone that our police, our fire fighters and our Canadian Armed Forces are worthy of celebration.”

The Pacific Tattoo is a partnership of military, police, civilian, amateur and professional performers from here and abroad, led by a Victoria-based Board and production team, ably assisted by a remarkable team of volunteers. It is the only military tattoo on the west coast of North America and completes a national quartet of annual international military tattoos that includes the Royal Nova Scotia International Military Tattoo in Halifax, the Quebec City Military Tattoo, and the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton, Ontario.

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