Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival 2021

The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival returns this month marking the first time in two years that these races will hit Vancouver waters. After being postponed earlier this year and cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the festival’s expansion and evolution — with the return of dragon boat racing — will connect with more communities over a longer period of time at multiple sites around Vancouver for the first time.

Dragon Boat Festival 2021

When: September 18-26, 2021
Where: Concord Pacific Place (False Creek – 88 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver)
Admission for Spectators: All programs are either free or by donation.

North America’s flagship dragon boat festival is back for the first time with a multi-day event, set to feature races, performances, and cultural programs over multiple sites. 

“While COVID has impacted what our Festival normally looks like, we’ve taken this as a challenge to reimagine what comes next and look for creative ways to bring our community back together,” said Dominic Lai, Marketing and Operations Director for Dragon Boat BC. “We’re excited to unveil our Festival’s new direction, to safely welcome paddlers and the community to the world of dragon boat, and to highlight the culture that inspires this popular Vancouver tradition.”

Returning to its roots in culture and sport, the 9-day event’s main highlight is the return of dragon boat racing during Championship Weekend on September 25 from 10:00am to 7:00pm The day will also feature local artists on the 102.7 THE PEAK Main Stage and pavilions sharing Chinese and Indigenous cultures within a controlled site at Concord Pacific Place.

During the week-long festivities, the community will also be able to:

• Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with special activities, such as moon and star gazing at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens from September 21 to 26; 
• Explore the Festival’s archives at BC Sports Hall of Fame through the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit from September 24 to 26;
• Visit “A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia” exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum and view a new video documentary series about Chinatown’s historic clan society buildings starting September 23;
• Join Cross Cultural Walking Tours to learn about multi-community and layered history of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods;
• Experience temporary art installations in Chinatown and traditional skill demonstrations. 

Peak Main Stage – Free

Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 10:00am to 7:00pm

Enjoy free local performances on the 102.7 THE PEAK Main Stage during Championship Weekend. Lineup features local artists and musicians including: Hotel Mira, Mathew V, Desirée Dawson, Missy D, Fionn, Jasper Sloan Yip. Representatives and performers from the three host nations on which the Festival is held will be present, including: Eagle Song Dancers (Squamish), Coastal Wolf Pack (Musqueam), and Children of Takaya (Tsleil-Waututh). 

Follow Dragon Boat BC on Facebook for more information.