Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival returns for its 24th time to Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough on Saturday (June 14).
Five days before the festival, participating individuals and teams have raised over $208,265 of the festival’s 2025 goal of $260,018.01, 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, which is presented by Kawartha Credit Union, to 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
- 7:00 a.m. – Shuttle bus begins running
- 7:30 a.m. – Steers meeting on the T-Wharf
- 7:45 a.m. – Team captains’ meeting at the bleachers
- 8:00 a.m. – Awakening the Dragon/Opening ceremonies on the T-Wharf
- 8:30 a.m. – First race heats begin
- 9:00 a.m. – Vendors Village Market opens
- 9:00 a.m. – Family Fun Zone opens
- 10:50 a.m. – McKenzie Cup Race followed by the Flower Ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
- 11:00 a.m. – The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden opens
- 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch break
- 12:30 p.m. – Second race heats begin
- 1:00 p.m. – Top three fundraisers announcement
- 3:00 p.m. – Silent auction closes, cash and quilt raffle winners announced
- 3:10 p.m. – Divisional finals begin
- 3:50 p.m. – Final race (community division championship)
- 4:15 p.m. – Awards ceremony at the bleachers
- 4:30 p.m. – Last shuttle bus pick-up from Del Crary Park (Townsend St. just before George St.)
- 5:00 p.m. – Vendors Village closes
- 6:00 p.m. – The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden closes
Modern Makers Market is partnering with the festival for another year to offer the Vendor Village Market, a unique shopping and food experience with 49 vendors.
The Thirsty Dragon Beer Garden, hosted by 100 Acre Brewing Co. and Sandbagger, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.
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, Oxford Massage, Art Gallery of Peterborough, The Happy Mean – Zumba, F45 Peterborough Central, PRHC Breast Assessment Centre, Zumba VSL, YMCA of Central East Ontario, Kidz First, The Boardwalk Lounge, Critter Visits, and Pathway Life Church. There will also be face painting and a selfie photo booth.
You can also visit the Dragon Shop (just past the bleachers) to purchase festival-branded hats, totes, cooling scarves, mugs, note cards, pink sunglasses, pink ribbon magnets and pins, and more.
Of course, the highlight of the day are the dragon boat races, which begin with the randomly seeded morning challenge at 8:30 a.m.
At 10:50 a.m., four teams of breast cancer survivors will compete for the McKenzie Cup. This race will be followed at 11:00 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 at 12:30 p.m., followed by the open women finals at 3:10 p.m. and the final race (the community division championship) at 3:50 p.m.
The awards ceremony takes place at the bleachers at 4:15 p.m.
A full race schedule will be posted on the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival website at www.ptbodragonboat.ca.
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.:
- George St. entrance to Del Crary Park Marina (the marina parking lot is reserved for sponsors, vendors, and Fun Zone providers)
- 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 St. 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 east limit
- Winch St. from the south side of Crescent St. to the north side of Ware St.
- Haggart St. from the south side of Crescent St. to the north side of Ware St.
Emergency “no parking” signs will be placed on both sides of Lock St. from Romaine St. to Ware St. Parking is available at the Simcoe Street Parking Garage and the King Street Parkade, as well as on residential streets surrounding the road closure area.
A shuttle bus courtesy of Hamilton Bus Lines will be running from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with pick-up and drop-off locations at the City Hall parking lot, the King Street Parkade (202 King St. near Louis St., on Townsend St. across the road from the BWXT/GE Parking lot at 107 Park St., and Townsend St. just before George St. (walking distance from Crary Park)
Here’s a map of the parking locations and the shuttle bus route:
2025 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 provided by B!ke – the Peterborough Community Bike Shop. Basic bike maintenance will also be available.
For more information about the 2025 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival and to donate, visit www.ptbodragonboat.ca.
