Gorge Swim Fest 2018

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Sunday, July 22nd, 2018
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Come and join “Gorge George” in his trademark black and white striped “swimming costume” as we return Victoria to the glory days of swimming in the Gorge!

Gorge Swim Fest is an annual family-oriented day of aquatic and land-based fun celebrating and promoting the return of the Gorge as Victoria’s pre-eminent summer swimming hole.

For those in the know, the Gorge is the warmest and cleanest place to swim in the Victoria area, with sandy and pebble beaches, rocky promontories and swim docks. One hundred years ago the Gorge was the most popular destination for Victorians seeking a summer cool-down, or simply a tranquil place to picnic by the water. Swimming races were a regular event and there was even a 100 foot diving tower at Curtis Point (the foundation for which is still visible today) where daring athletes plunged into the water.

Although many of the years since were not kind to the Gorge, the last decades have seen a tremendous effort to rehabilitate and clean up the Gorge, and it is now certified by the Vancouver Island Health Authority through their weekly monitoring as having the cleanest water in the region!

The Gorge Swim Fest was created to celebrate the return of the Gorge and to promote the use of the Gorge for recreational swimming. The Swim Fest also promotes public awareness of need to value and protect the Gorge into the future, as the Gorge is an important ecological niche and a nursery for many aquatic species.

On Swim Fest day you can look forward to swimming (of course) as well as enjoying the other activities scheduled through the day, such as live music, food trucks, historical presentations, kids events and much more!

So grab your trunks and towel and come on down to enjoy a swim!