The FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival is back this August! Soak in the sun on the shores of the Fraser River, and watch as 80 teams face off at Richmond’s only dragon boat race.
Steveston comes alive as an estimated 2,000 paddlers converge for one of BC’s biggest dragon boat races and one of Richmond’s most unique community festivals. Enjoy dragon boat races, plus live music and entertainment while kicking back and enjoying summer by the water.
When: August 19, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Where: Imperial Landing
Cost: FREE ADMISSION!
What: Dragon boat racing, live music, and much more!
Click here for the 2023 Festival Site Map
On-Land | Races | ||
---|---|---|---|
Parking Lot Opens (Minimum $10 donation) | 6:00 AM | ADMIN: Race Registrar Opens | 7:30 AM |
Festival Marketplace Opens | 10:00 AM | RACE COURSE: Preliminary Heat Races Begin | 8:30 AM |
STAGE: Coastal Wolf Pack | 11:00 AM | ||
Red Truck Patio/Beverage Service Opens | 12:00 PM | RACE COURSE: Semi Finals Begin | 11:30 AM |
SITE: Hon Hsing Athletic Club Lion Dances | 12:30 PM | RACE COURSE: Finals Begin | 2:30 PM |
STAGE: Ginalina Presents: Sun Moon Lake Trio | 2:00 PM | LAND: Medal Presentations Begin | 2:45 PM |
STAGE: Rachel Carino | 3:00 PM | RACE COURSE: FRDBF Women's Grand Final | 3:15 PM |
STAGE: Hayley Wallis and the Bright Futures | 4:00 PM | RACE COURSE: FRDBF Mixed Grand Final | 5:00 PM |
STAGE: Luc LeMans | 5:00 PM | ||
Festival Site Closes | 7:00 PM |
One Hundred Years of Wisdom – Debra Sparrow Musqueam Boat Display
With the support of the BC Arts Council.
In 2022, the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society commissioned 9 local artists to create unique artwork celebrating the spirit community, culture, and competition through their own lens to commemorate the landmark arrival of a fleet of 18 new racing dragon boats. The boats are raced at high-level international competition, and displayed as learning and cultural tools throughout the year at different community events.
Renowned Musqueam artist and elder Debra Sparrow created artwork for a boat reflecting on shared links between different communities. Her boat- titled One Hundred Years of Wisdom will be displayed for the first time in Richmond at the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival, encouraging visitors to reflect on the unceded Musqueam territories the Festival is held on, and the shared linkages between Chinese and Musqueam communities.
“I am always honoured to be asked to bring the beauty of our creative process forward and collaborate with different cultures. Creating designs to apply to the dragon boat, it came to mind the ways in which cultures use the water.
These designs represent the movement and swirling water after a paddle has dug deep to move canoes and dragon boats along swiftly on their way. The colours honour the red of Lunar New Year, and the reds we use in our blankets. The black represents the mud deep under the rivers used to dye wool. Histories tell the story handed down through generations. Know who you are…know where you come from.” – Debra Sparrow, 2022.
Public Transit
We’re a short walk away from bus routes 401, 402, 407, 410, and C93! Go to www.translink.ca to plan your trip.
Driving
GPS/Google Maps: 4280 Bayview Street, Richmond BC.
Parking is available at the baseball diamond at Steveston Community Park, a short walk away from the race site. Please enter the area on Moncton Street between Hayashi Court and Number 1 Road, proceed past the parking lot, and follow signage on site. The approximate address is at 4011 Moncton Street. Parking is available for a minimum donation of $10 (all proceeds to Richmond Food Bank and Learning Buddies Network). Parking is limited, so please plan to carpool. The parking lot will open at 7:00 am.
Exploring the Festival while on wheels or walking your dog can be difficult because of the crowds. We strongly encourage you to lock up your bike, carry your board, and leave your pup at home.
Amenities
Washrooms: throughout site
Festival Merchandise: Imperial Landing: Oddball Workshop Tent
First Aid: Ask any staff/volunteer for assistance
Red Truck Patio Bar Service: Main Stage
Water Stations: by Marshalling Tents
Food Trucks: by Main Stage
Richmond Food Bank: Richmond Food Bank is the charity partner of the FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival. Serving on average 2,200 people per week, the Richmond Food Bank is a dynamic hub that connects people, food, and services essential to health and well-being. Visit richmondfoodbank.org to donate and learn more. On-site programming and partial proceeds from the Festival will benefit the Richmond Food Bank.
Learning Buddies Network:Learning Buddies Network is the charity partner of the FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival. Learning Buddies Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping elementary school students develop essential literacy and math skills through free one on one, after school mentoring in a fun group setting who otherwise would not have the help they need. Visit www.learningbuddiesnetwork.com to donate and learn more. On-site programming and partial proceeds from the Festival will benefit Learning Buddies Network.
The FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival is held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands and waters of the Musqueam peoples.