Barrie Dragon Boat Festival , Date: August 16; Location: Heritage Park; Cost: Free to watch the races
The annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is a major recreational and cultural event. It promotes community spirit, vitality and unity. Hosted by The Barrie Public Library, the event also offers family literacy activities
Each year, teams of paddlers enter into the race for a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping competition on Kempenfelt Bay. 20 paddlers in a canoe like boat with a drummer upfront and a steerer in the stern, try to win a 300 meter race.
4 teams race at a time through several heats and each race takes about 2.5 minutes. At the end of the final race, several awards are handed out.
Practice season begins in June so you may even see teams out on the Bay before the festival.
The Details
Registration is opened April 30 and teams can be registered until August 8th
This beloved annual event, taking place on August 16, promises to be an exciting day of racing, community spirit, and fun on the water. So don’t miss out on this opportunity to save and be part of the action!
More than just a race: A celebration of community
The Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is more than just a competition. It’s a celebration of community spirit. Teams from all walks of life come together to compete, raise funds for charity, and enjoy a fun-filled day on the waterfront. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a complete beginner, there’s a place for you at the festival.
Lauren Jessop, CEO of Barrie Public Library, shares, “I’ve heard from so many people that they had never been out on Kempenfelt Bay until they tried dragon boating. And that’s exactly why we’re here, to give people opportunities to learn, grow, and experience their city in new ways.”
How to register your team
Want to get in on the action at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival? Here’s how to do it …
Registration
Team captains can register their team online and fees can be paid by e-transfer, cheque or credit card.
To pay by credit call 705-728-1010 ext 2212.
Cheques are payable to Barrie Public Library (include ‘BDBF Registration – TEAM NAME’ in the memo field). You can bring cheques directly to the library or mail them to the Barrie Public Library c/o Dragon Boat Festival at 60 Worsley St, Barrie, ON, L4M 1L6.
E-transfer instructions will be provided by the Event Staff.
If you register between April 1 and 30, you will be entered into a random draw to win The Ultimate Tim Hortons Coffee Break for their entire team!
Assembling your crew – By August 8th
Gather your friends, colleagues, or charity group and get ready to conquer the water! You will need a minimum of 16 paddlers, 10 of which must identify as female, and one drummer. The maximum number of team members is 30, and you may provide your own trained steersperson.
Don’t have a team? No problem! Email the event staff at dragonboat@barrielibrary.ca with the subject “Join a Team” and they’ll help connect you with a team looking for paddlers.
Team captains must submit team roster and Participant Waivers to the Library’s Event Office by August 8. These forms can be found on the Library’s website.
Fundraise for charity
All teams must choose a charity close to your team’s heart and pledge to raise a minimum of $500. This adds a meaningful element to the competition and supports a worthy cause.
Practice makes perfect
While not a requirement, practice sessions are allowed to hone your paddling skills and team coordination. Beginning mid to late June, these sessions will cost $150 each and will include paddle, boats, lifejackets, and a trained steersperson. You may provide your own trained steersperson so long as they have been approved by Corporate Recess, a community partner who will be facilitating the practices.
Coaches are available from $50 to $100 per session.
Team Captain’s Meeting
Team captains won’t want to miss the Team Captain’s Meeting on August 11th to get all the race day details and answer any questions.
Familiarize yourself with the festival schedule and the exciting awards up for grabs, including Challenge Cups and Community Awards.
The big day
On August 16th, team captains or co-captains will be responsible for checking in starting at 6:30 am. Each team will have a 10×10 space to set up. Tents are not provided, so if you would like one, you’ll have to arrange for it. There will be no food vendors on, however, there will be a water refill station.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival!