The Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening on the third weekend of August each year.
General Schedule
Specifics for each year's festival are posted in early to mid-August.
Friday evening
- Blessing of the boats
- Challenge races
Beverage gardens are open.
Saturday all day
Throughout the day enjoy vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and the beverage gardens—after you race, please! The day wraps up with a paddler party.
- Morning races—all teams race once in randomly assigned heats
- Opening ceremony
- Afternoon races—all teams race once in randomly assigned heats
Team total times from their two heats are used to rank teams into divisions.
Sunday all day
Throughout the day enjoy vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and the beverage gardens—after you race, please! The day wraps up with the awards ceremony.
- Morning races—semi-finals
- Mulan (women's) division
- Mixed divisions from lowest to highest
- Pink Ribbon Ceremony
- Afternoon races—finals
- Mulan (women's) division
- Mixed divisions from lowest to highest
- Awards ceremony
Upcoming festival
Latest information
Festival Team Divisions
Mixed – requires a minimum of 8 female and 8 male paddlers
Women's – paddlers are all female with steersperson and drummer of either gender
Novice Challenge – 250 meter course for teams with a minimum of 8 first year paddlers
Pink Ribbon Challenge – 500 meter course for teams where all paddlers are breast cancer survivors
Grassroots – 250 meter course for mixed teams that do not have more than 2 experienced paddlers
Get involved in a festival!
There are many ways to get involved, either as an athlete or a supporter.
Register as a Paddler
If you are an individual paddler, steersperson or drummer and wanting to join a team, please register below. This registration form is for new and/or experienced individuals. If you have been invited by a team manager to join a particular dragon boat team, please register with our online form. Paddler Registration Form
Register Your Team for the Festival
Team managers, please register your dragon boat team on the online form: Team Registration Form or Grassroots Team Registration Form for new teams with no more than two experienced paddlers, who will receive a coach, a steersperson, one practice prior to Festival, and Festival registration.
Register for Practice Sessions
Register your team for practice times on the river: Register for Practice Sessions
Sign-up to be a Member of the EDBFA
If you are interested in becoming a member of the festival association which includes voting rights, a monthly newsletter and attendance at our Annual General Meeting, please sign-up with our online registration form: Become a Member of EDBFA
Sign Up as a Festival Volunteer
If you would like to volunteer at the festival, practices, or in any other way, read our volunteer page for more information. Volunteer Registration
Sign Up as a Vendor
If you would like to provide vending at the festival sign up on our online registration form: Vendor Registration Form
Sponsor the Festival
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, please email the externalrelations@edbfa.ca.
Air quality, parking, PFDs, site info, tent assignments … you’ve asked it, we’re answering. Will be updated as we go.