2025 Program and Event Calendar


Community Events and Races

Date Time Event Description
February 9 11:00 AM – 4:00PM Lunar New Year Olympic Village Community Festival presented by Birds Nest Properties
Welcome the Lunar New Year at Creekside Community Centre! Enjoy live lion dance and cultural performances, traditional craftsperson demonstrations, all-ages arts and crafts, dragon boat team recruitment tables, and a local artisan vendor market. Free admission!
May 3 – AM 9:00 AM – 12:00PM Burnwater Youth Regatta
The first race of the season, the Burnwater Youth Regatta is Western Canada’s largest regatta featuring youth teams. Cheer on these young athletes for free, and soak in the festive environment. Free admission!
May 3 – PM 1:00 PM –  4:00 PM Burnwater Spring Sprint
The Burnwater Spring Sprint is back; kick off the racing season with 3 X 500M races on the False Creek race course. Free admission!
May 25 1:00 PM –  4:00 PM Birds Nest Properties Community Paddling Day
Join us for 45 minute dragon boat or kayak paddling sessions beginning on the hour in Olympic Village, with proceeds going to support community charities and causes.
May 31 9:00 AM –  5:00 PM Vessi 500 Championship
Soak in the sun, grab a bite or a drink, and try out Vessi’s famous waterproof shoes- all as one of Canada’s biggest races comes down the race course beside you! Watch as mixed and women’s teams face off against each other on False Creek. Free admission!
June 20-22 9:00 AM –  9:00 PM Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival
Summer starts on False Creek; join us at North America’s flagship dragon boat festival on Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park, and False Creek. 6,000 paddlers and 250,000 spectators enjoy cultural performances across the site, the continent’s most exciting dragon boat races, and an exciting local live music program on the TD Main Stage. Free admission!
July 6 1:00 PM –  4:00 PM Birds Nest Properties Community Paddling Day
Join us for 45 minute dragon boat or kayak paddling sessions beginning on the hour in Olympic Village, with proceeds going to support community charities and causes.
July 26 9:00 AM –  5:00 PM Harrison Dragon Boat Festival
 One of the race calendar’s most popular events is back! Sneak away for the weekend, and join us at scenic Harrison Lake to soak in the sun. Organized in partnership with the Fraser Valley Paddling Club. Free admission!
August 3 1:00 PM –  4:00 PM Birds Nest Properties Community Paddling Day
Join us for 45 minute dragon boat or kayak paddling sessions beginning on the hour in Olympic Village, with proceeds going to support community charities and causes.
August 23 9:00 AM –  5:00 PM FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival
Wrap up summer with us on the shores of the Fraser River at Steveston Harbour and Imperial Landing Park. Steveston comes alive with 1,500 paddlers and 20,000 visitors for one of BC’s biggest dragon boat races. Free admission!
September 27 9:00 AM –  5:00 PM Oddball Fall Classic
Close out the racing year with us on False Creek at the Oddball Fall Classic! Teams will sprint in 200 M races throughout the day before lining it up for the ultimate challenge, with the season’s last 2K race. Free admission!


2025 Individual Paddling Programs

Learn more at our Individual Intro Programs page and Community page. Please add 5% GST to all costs. Register online at register.dragonboatbc.ca. To register for summer camp, visit the Park Board website.

Program Start Date End Date Time Race Day Cost
KAYAK –
Intro to Kayak April 14 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak April 28 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak May 5 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak May 27 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak June 2 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak June 9 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak July 7 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak July 21 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak July 28 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak August 18 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak August 25 n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
Intro to Kayak TBD n/a 5:00 PM-7:30 PM $125
DRAGON BOAT – 2025 Dates now open for registration
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race May 7 May 28 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM May 31 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race May 26 June 16 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM June 20-22 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race – May 28 June 18 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM June 20-22 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race July 29 Aug 19 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM August 23 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race July 30 August 20 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM August 23 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race – September 2 September 23 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM September 27 $150
4 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race September 3 September 24 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM September 27 $150
8 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race – April 29 June 17 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM May 31, June 20-22 $250
8 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race May 1 June 19 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM May 31, June 20-22  $250
8 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race August 5 September 23 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Aug 23, Sept 27  $250
8 Week Intro to Dragon Boat and Race August7 September 24 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Aug 23, Sept 27  $250
OC-1 – REGISTER NOW AT REGISTER.DRAGONBOATBC.CA
Intro to OC-1 November 16 December 14 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM  $150
YOUTH SUMMER PADDLING CAMP – REGISTER THROUGH CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE 2025 Dates TBD
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $325
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $325
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400
Summer Paddling Camp – Age 8-12 9:00 AM-3:30 PM $400


2024 – 2025 Skill Clinics 

Learn more by visiting our Skill Clinic page. Please add 5% GST to all costs. Register online at register.dragonboatbc.ca.

Program Level Date Time Cost
DRAGON BOAT
Steering Clinic Level 1 October 19, 2024 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM $25
Steering Clinic Level 1 Stay Tuned 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM $25
Steering Clinic Level 1 Stay Tuned 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM $25
Steering Clinic Level 1 Stay Tuned 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM $25

The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society acknowledges its work takes place primarily on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands and waters of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

© 2025 Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society