Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival returns to Del Crary Park on Saturday (June 10).
Four days before the festival, participating individuals and teams have raised over $148,163.45 of the festival’s $205,000.18 goal, with 100 per cent of all pledges going to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of breast and other cancers at the regional hospital.
Everyone is welcome to attend the festival, cheer on the racers, and take part in the day’s activities.
Here’s the day’s schedule of events (times are subject to change):
- 7:00 a.m. – Road closures in effect, barricades close
- 7:30 a.m. – Team captains’ meeting (near the entrance to the marshalling area)
- 8:00 a.m. – Awakening the Dragon/Opening ceremonies
- 8:30 a.m. – First race heats begin
- 9:00 a.m. – Vendors Village Market opens
- 9:00 a.m. – Family Fun Zone opens
- 11:00 a.m. – The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden opens
- 11:00 a.m. – McKenzie Cup Race series followed by the Flower Ceremony
- 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch break
- 12:00 p.m. – Peterborough Chinese Community Organization’s traditional Chinese dance performance (in the Fun Zone area)
- 12:30 p.m. – Second race heats begin
- 1:00 p.m. – Top three fundraisers announcement
- 3:10 p.m. – Divisional finals begin
- 3:45 p.m. – Last shuttle bus leaves Del Crary Park
- 4:00 p.m. – Raffle winners announcement
- 4:50 p.m. – Awards ceremony, race trophies, top team fundraisers (at the bleachers)
- 6:00 p.m. – The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden closes
Here’s a festival site map:
2023 Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival site map
Modern Makers Market is partnering with the festival for another year to offer the Vendor Village Market, a unique shopping and food experience with 39 vendors.
The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden, hosted by Cameron’s Brewing and Rice Lake Hard Cider, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Family Fun Zone will offer activities and crafts to keep the whole family entertained. Businesses and organizations at the Family Fun Zone include White Tiger Taekwondo, Peterborough Canoe and Kayak Club, Zumba with Cristina Brazil, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Orangetheory, The Happy Mean – Zumba, F45 Peterborough Central, PRHC Breast Assessment Centre, Zumba VSL, YMCA of CEO, B!ke – Peterborough Community Bike Shop, and Kidz First. There will also be a selfie photo booth.
You can also visit the Dragon Shop (just past the bleachers) to purchase festival-branded T-shirts, hats, bags, totes, water bottles, cooling scarves, mugs, ball caps, sunglasses,
and more.
Of course, the highlight of the day are the dragon boat races, which begin with the randomly seeded morning challenge from 8:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
At 11 a.m., four teams of breast cancer survivors will compete for the McKenzie Cup.
This race will be followed at 11:30 a.m. by the Flower Ceremony, an annual tradition to both remember and honour those who have lost their battle with breast cancer.
The afternoon challenge, seeded by morning race times, will run from 12:30 to 2:50 p.m., followed by the open women finals at 3:10 p.m., the open mixed finals at 3:40 p.m., the the junior finals at 4 p.m., the community women finals at 4:10 p.m., and the community mixed finals at 4:20 p.m.
The awards ceremony, with race trophies and recognition of top individual fundraisers, takes place at the bleachers at 4:50 p.m.
Here’s the full race schedule:
2023 Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival race schedule
If you’re planning to drive to the festival on Saturday, be aware the car parking is limited around Del Crary Park and that several roads around Del Crary Park will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
- Perry St. from the east side of George St. to the west side of Crescent St.
- Lake St. from the east side of George St. to the west side of Crescent St.
- Lock St. from the north side of Romaine St. to the south side of Crescent St.
- Romaine Street from the east side of Lock St. to the west side of Crescent St.
- Crescent St. from the south side of Perry St. to the west side of Winch St.
- Rink St. from the east side of George St at the Del Crary Park Marina entrance.
Parking is available at the Simcoe Street Parking Garage, the King Street Parkade, and the Healthy Planet Arena.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a shuttle bus will be running from the Healthy Planet Arena to Del Crary Park, Del Crary Park to the Simcoe Street Parking Garage, the Simcoe Street Parking Garage to the King Street Parkade, the King Street Parkade to Del Crary Park, and Del Crary Park to the Healthy Planet Arena.
Here’s a map of the parking locations and the shuttle bus route:
2023 Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival shuttle bus and parking lots
Those travelling to the festival by bike can park in the supervised bike valet parking near the Art Gallery of Peterborough provided by B!ke – the Peterborough Community Bike Shop. Basic bike maintenance will also be available.
For more information about the 2023 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival and to donate, visit www.ptbodragonboat.ca.
