If you’re stuck for something to do this weekend, there’s sure to be excitement in Vancouver’s waters with ferocious paddlers battling it out in a race to the top.
The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival has been featuring cultural programming with exhibits, installations, performances, and discussion panels for the past week. This Saturday members of Dragon Boat BC will be participating in the festival’s culminating event, a dragon boat championship race in False Creek. The festival’s theme is that of re-creation, fitting as the festival was not held last year as it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dragon boat races were run for the first time outside of Asia during Expo 86. Since then, the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society has worked to promote diversity and racial equality within the sport.
"We want to make sure that we're welcoming and also celebrating as many different cultures as possible. Obviously, Dragon Boat is a big part of Chinese culture and I think it's a great way to celebrate both sport and traditions from that culture," explained spokesperson Michaela Wong.
Visitors will be required to present their BC Vaccine Card or other accepted proof of vaccination with government-issued photo ID to enter our False Creek Festival Site.
For more information on where and how to watch the race feel free to check out the festival’s website.
With files from Thor Daikow
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