Bringing communities together through dragon boat since 1997
About the Festival
Bringing communities together since 1997
Our mission says it all: to bring communities together through the celebration of cultures and competition. Each year, thousands of visitors come together for the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market, a celebration of culture and sports right in the heart of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Visitors from around the region, and from around the world converge to cheer on dragon boat teams, taste local flavours, enjoy live music, and soak in the atmosphere. Plus, as part of a long-standing tradition, we make a difference in our community by raising funds for the BC Cancer Foundation.
We’re proud of our role as a place for everyone to come together – as individuals, as teams, as families, and as a community. As Vancouver Island’s signature dragon boat festival, we inspire and bring our community together in a celebration of a traditional Chinese cultural sport and Victoria’s unique cultural fabric.
Join us to celebrate the height of summer in BC’s capital! The Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market is put on by the non-profit Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society.
Festival History
The Festival began in 1994 as part of the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. To mark Hong Kong Day, the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association brought dragon boats from Vancouver to Victoria for exhibition races. At that time, there was not a single dragon boat team training in town. With the success of these exhibition races, the Festival quickly became established. Since 1994, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, races have been held annually in the Inner Harbour in Victoria in mid-August.
The Festival has also has also made fundraising for BC Cancer part of its programming through our Lights of Courage campaign. Traditional Chinese lanterns are available at Fairway Market locations around the region, and on-site at the Festival, with purchasers invited to leave a message of remembrance or hope. Learn more at victoriadragonboatfestival.com/donate.
The Festival has created exciting race opportunities since 1997 in the midst of a working harbour. Through partnerships and regular outreach with the City of Victoria, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Transport Canada, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, and many others, this unique location that showcases Victoria will continue to be activated for years to come. The Festival is put on annually by the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society, a BC non-profit organization established in 1997.
Dragons on the Coast: Victoria’s Dragon Boat Story
Opening August 8 at the Victoria Chinatown Museum, 10 Fan Tan Alley!
Celebrating our story, we’re proud to unveil a new mini-exhibition this year. This retrospective exhibit encourages visitors to discover some of the stories behind dragon boat’s roots.
Highlights include: an original Expo 86 teak dragon boat head and paddle that was used to start dragon boat in Canada, then started dragon boat in Victoria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games; a collection of medals awarded over the decades in the Inner Harbour; and papers and other items from the Festival’s founding years.
Open until September 7 in partnership with the Victoria Chinatown Museum.
- Open Thursdays-Sundays, August 8-September 7
- 10 Fan Tan Alley, Victoria BC
- Museum information: victoriachinatownmuseum.com
With the support of Canada Dry, Fairway Market, Harbour Air, TD, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Victoria.
