See the majestic sport of Dragon Boat Racing at the Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival® Join us for a day of dragon boat racing and fun-filled activities for the whole family!
For those unfamiliar with the sport, dragon boating is a boat of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steer person. It is a team sport that requires power, speed, synchronization, and endurance. No experience is needed to join in the Dragon Boat Festival. We will teach you how to paddle! This event is free to attend as a spectator, but participating teams must pay the racing fee.
Teams represent local Western New York corporations, breast cancer survivors, police, firefighters, and other community organizations. With its beginnings in Southern China, dragon boating today is the fastest growing international team water sport and soon to be an Olympic event. Race festivals are held year-round at numerous locations around the world and now proudly in Buffalo, New York.
What to Expect:
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- Dragon Boat Racing – Click here to learn more about signing up to race. Sign up deadline is May 15!
- Entertainment – Popular local musician, Tim Britt, has taken Buffalo by storm. With an engaging personality and a broad range of vocals, he entertains audiences throughout WNY.
- Children’s Area – Temporary Dragon Tattoos and Dragon mask crafts offered by Hope Chest.
- Vendor Booths – Vendors will be available from 8am to 4pm. Click here for more vendor information.
- Basket Raffles – Our very popular Basket Raffles grows each year in the quantity and quality of baskets offered. This is one of the most popular stops for participants and spectators alike with over 100 themed baskets. The basket raffle begins at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 2:15 p.m. You do not need to be present to win.
- 50/50 Raffles – 50/50 Raffle Tickets are available for purchase at the Registration Tent and throughout the Venue. We have two drawings each year – morning and afternoon. The morning winner will be announced at 11:00 am, and the afternoon winner announced at 3:00 pm. You do not need to be present to win.
- Large concession area.
We are looking for volunteers! Click here to learn more.
All proceeds from this event go to Hope Chest, an organization created through a friendship and a shared interest in exercise. The founder and her close friend, Nina, aspired to become personal trainers. Despite a diagnosis of breast cancer, Nina continued to exercise whenever possible and was determined to make a difference in the lives of breast cancer survivors. Dragon boat racing is especially effective in working the muscle groups that benefit breast cancer survivors. The donations from this event allows Hope Chest to offer unique services for breast cancer survivors including year-round, free weekly exercise classes in three Catalyst locations throughout WNY which meet the needs of breast cancer survivors and provide free weekly paddling sessions around Buffalo Harbor and canals May through October.
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