DRAGONBOAT CANADA QUALIFYING EVENT
The 2018 Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival is a Dragonboat Canada qualifying event and will include a 2000m (2K) race.
Festival Races
Challenge cups
Novice challenge—Teams with 8 or more new paddlers race for gold and glory before the official festival races begin. Winners will be announced at the Sunday awards ceremony. Registration was at the time of festival entry.
Grand Master Dragons challenge—for "seasoned" paddlers age 50+. Registration is on-site until 2 PM Saturday. Teams will be randomly formed.
Pink Ribbon challenge—Teams of breast cancer survivors are a picture of fitness, strength, and unity in this challenge cup. Registration was at time of festival entry.
Stay tuned for a possible Youth challenge cup for Paddlers 14-18.
Only gold medals are awarded for challenge cups.
Divisions and Races
See the page Race grid for a detailed schedule and more information about divisions.
Festival Features
Entertainment
This year we are pleased to announce the following entertainment groups:
Music and race announcing
Race Announcer Wade Sorochan returns for a 16th year, announcing the races, while Roman Entertainment DJ keeps the festival grounds pumping with tunes in between. Meanwhile, The One 93.1 Radio livecasts from the festival grounds.
Opening ceremonies entertainment
Watch martial arts demonstrations, along with the traditional Chinese Lion Dance.
Throughout the festival grounds
- Martial arts demonstrations
- Orbitz
Wellbeing
- Aurora Yoga Studios
- Massage Students with CDI
Little Dragons Family Fun Area
There's lots of fun to be had in the Little Dragons Family Fun area. Visit the balloon artist, jumpy castle, and make art work that your little dragons can take home with them.
All children must be supervised, and participation is at your own risk.
Beverage Gardens
After a long day on the water, you deserve a nice cold beverage in our beverage gardens. Sponsored and run by the Leduc Canadian Brewhouse.
This partnership means that for the first time, the beverage gardens offer full drink service (beer, wine, highballs, etc.), and accept debit/credit cards.
The Beverage Gardens are all–ages. Minors must be supervised.
Don't miss the hosted events for paddlers at 8 PM on Saturday evening.
Paddler parties and overnight
For those who want to tempt fate with early morning races, after the gardens close, head to the paddler parties. Friday night's is at the Canadian Brewhouse and Saturday's is at Kosmos.
Please consider staying in Leduc afterwards, at Best Western Premier Leduc, which is offering discounted rates for festival-goers.
Vendors + Community groups
Several vendors and community groups have chosen to participate this year. Please visit their tents, booths, or areas during the festival.
- Alley Kat Brewing
- Breast Friends Racing Team
- CB Display Boxes
- Chateau Lacombe Edmonton
- City of Leduc
- Lars Works
- Leduc Transit
- Leduc Trophies
- Lynx Society
- Mr. Printer
- Orbis Sports
- Staples Leduc
- Tony Wong
- Typhoon8
Food Trucks
- Lemon Grass Grill
- Mini Golden Donuts
- So-Cal Smoothies
- The Purple Perogy
- Crooked Crepes
- Momma Potato
- Nikita's Creamery
- Aurora Coffee (Sunday only)
Water Bottle Refill + Misting Station
Please bring your reusable water bottle. We have a truck on site with valves so you can disperse your own drinking water. A misting station and shower station (for water emergency rinsing) is located near the washroom area.
2018 Festival Sponsors
50/50 draw
50/50 tickets will be sold beginning the week of festival as some of our teams will be practicing on site.
Ticket prices
1 ticket for $2
3 tickets for $5
Claiming your prize
Winners do not have to be on site in order to win.
The winner will be posted and can contact the committee to claim their prize.
Check out our website, social media and the information tent for the winning number!
Festival News and updates
Air quality, parking, PFDs, site info, tent assignments … you’ve asked it, we’re answering. Will be updated as we go.