Central Saanich’s 75th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate 75 years of Central Saanich with an incredible lineup of local talent!

From high-energy headliners like Nick La Riviere & The Best Laid Plans and the crowd-powered Victoria Rock Choir, to hometown favourites like Vanilla Riot, Madi and the Dads, and country artist Luke Lampard with special guest Chase Varnes, this celebration showcases the depth of talent rooted right here on the Saanich Peninsula.

You’ll also see rising stars take the stage, including emerging artists Wet Knees, Wreckage, and Kingston Weesa—bringing fresh energy and local pride to the lineup.

It’s a full day of music, community, and celebration you won’t want to miss.

Emerging Artists

Local Artists

Luke Lampard with special guest Chase Varnes On stage: 2:45 p.m. Luke Lampard is a local country artist from Brentwood Bay. His music has been growing steadily even while working a full-time firefighting job and coaching local softball teams. Luke is coming off performing at Sunfest Country 2025 and is releasing new music this summer! Instagram	Image
Chase Varnes 14-year-old Vancouver Island singer-songwriter Chase Varnes writes every song and self-produces, playing every instrument. His debut single “Ain't Been There Yet” blends country warmth with pop clarity and opens the door to a forthcoming EP.    Instagram	Image
Madi and the Dads On stage: 3:45 p.m. Madi and the Dads bring an energetic mix of covers and original songs. Fronted by Madison Olsen from Tsartlip First Nation in Central Saanich, the band features a talented crew of dadvibe musicians in varying states of beard. Backing up Madison are her father, bassist and local music producer Nick Gilchrist; peninsula raised guitarist Dave Bosma; drummer and Brentwood School of Music owner Mike Preston; and keyboardist extraordinaire Andy Sloniowski. Their warm, dynamic sound highlights Madison’s powerful voice and creates an engaging, feel-good experience for anyone in attendance.	Image
Vanilla Riot On stage: 4:45 p.m. Vanilla Riot is ready to rock Central Saanich’s 75th Anniversary! This high-energy cover band is deeply rooted in the local community. Current residents Clive Scott and Shay Poland are  proud to call Central Saanich home, while singer Jenny Leddy (Young) and bassist John Hawkins  are well known former locals. The hometown connection runs even deeper, as singers Shay and Jenny are both proud graduates of Stelly’s Secondary.   With a setlist packed with classic anthems and modern hits, Vanilla Riot brings the perfect energy for this event. Join your neighbors for an unforgettable performance as they celebrate seventy-five years of Central Saanich pride. Instagram	Image
The Victoria Rock Choir On stage: 5:50 p.m. This is no ordinary choir performance... this is a rock show! Featuring about 130 singers plus guitar, piano, bass, and drums, the choir performs music by bands like Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Tragically Hip, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Colin James, and more. Directed by trombonist, Nick La Riviere, this choir is all energy and good times. Nick attended Stelly’s Secondary in Central Saanich, and the choir features members from all over Greater Victoria. Make sure you check this group out - you’ll find yourself singing along in no time! Facebook Instagram	Image
Nick La Riviere & The Best Laid Plans On stage: 7:00 p.m. Best Laid Plans is a high-energy band with a deep bench of great players and a sound that moves easily between styles. The group features Nick La Riviere (trombone, vocals), Miguel Valdes (trumpet), Barrie Sorensen (sax), Kelly Fawcett (guitar), Attila Fias (keys, vocals), Louis Rudner (bass), and Alex Campbell (drums. Together, they cover a lot of ground—from original tunes to New Orleans-inspired party music to R&B—always with a focus on groove, feel, and having a good time. The band is led by Nick La Riviere, a singer, trombonist, and longtime fixture in the Victoria music scene. He’s toured internationally with artists like The Paperboys, Michael Kaeshammer, 54-40, The BC World Music Collective, and Adonis Puentes, and has shared the stage with musicians including Steven Page and The Temptations. As a freelancer, he’s played just about every kind of gig there is, and brings that experience into the band. Nick attended Stelly’s Secondary in Central Saanich, and was inspired by the music program there. Best Laid Plans draws inspiration from New Orleans greats like Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Allen Toussaint. Their original music leans into a mix of pop, funk, and horn-driven arrangements, with plenty of room for improvisation and, of course, trombone. Instagram Facebook	Image

Local makers, artists and food vendors help bring our community to life — and they’ll be a big part of Central Saanich’s 75th Celebration!
Stroll through the market area to discover handcrafted goods, local art, food trucks and community booths, all showcasing the creativity and talent found right here on the Peninsula. You’ll also find a special forest walk featuring select artists, weaving art into the natural beauty of Centennial Park.
Whether you’re browsing, tasting or chatting with the people behind the booths, this is a great chance to support local and connect with neighbours.

The full list of vendors and artists will be shared closer to the event.

 We’ve had a great response—thank you to all the local artisans, makers and vendors who have already applied!

If you’re interested in volunteering for the 75th Anniversary Celebration, we’d love to hear from you.
Duties may include helping with set‑up and take‑down of tents, and may involve heavy lifting.
Email us at communications@csaanich.ca to help!

• Free shuttle service
  • A free, accessible shuttle with drop-off and pick-up at the front entrance of the event, so you can skip dealing with event traffic and parking!
    How it works: Make your way to one of several shuttle stops throughout the community and hop on the bus. The shuttle will do a continuous loop during the event. Come and go as you please! 
    Stay tuned for shuttle stops & timing.
• Free bike parking
  • A free, secure bike parking service, like at the Saanich Fair, for bicycles, scooters, one-wheels, strollers or whatever micromobility vehicle you use!
    How it works: When you arrive, Capital Bike's friendly staff will take your bike and give you an identification tag. They will then watch over your bike during the event, and when you return, exchange your tag so you can wheel home!
    Stay tuned for routes & bike parking hours.

• Driving & Parking

  Parking near Centennial Park is limited (approximately 400 spaces). Please follow all signage and directions from on-site traffic control staff.
  Parking  options:

  • 1882 Hovey Road lot (across the street from Centennial Park)
  • Stelly’s Secondary School (approximately 1 km) with BC Transit shuttle service every 30 mins
  • Municipal Hall – 1903 Mt. Newton Cross Road (approximately 1 km)

  Important: Do not park in bike lanes.

• Accessible Parking
  Accessible parking is available near the Centennial Park tennis courts and adjacent to the park.

• Getting here: Please see the notes in the Venue / Howto Get Here section. Marked accessibility parking will be provided at the site.
• Surface conditions and grade: The event location includes a grass field, paved areas, lawn bowling facility and trails. The site is mostly at grade or has routes that are low grade. 
• Washrooms: there will be multiple washrooms, including accessible stalls, as well as portable toilets available. 
• Low sensory space: A designated low sensory tent will be available for those who may need a quieter, calmer environment.
• Noise: This event will have live, amplified music from approximately 12:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will be areas of the event that are quieter than others.
• Food and beverage: There will be more than 20 food and beverage vendors to choose from. Please check with the individual vendors to ensure your selected meal meets your dietary needs.
• Weather: This event is fully outdoors and will run rain or shine.
• Dogs: Service animals are welcome. Pets are not permitted on the Centennial Park playing fields or playgrounds. There will also be farm animals involved in the event. Dogs under control are permitted on Centennial Park trails.
   

This community event will be high-energy and low-impact! We're working with vendors to prioritize sustainability and a waste diversion team to keep whatever we can out of the landfill.
Details to come!