Celebrate the height of summer in the Inner Harbour!
Festival Visitor Info
Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market
August 8-9, 2025
FREE ADMISSION!
Location: Inner Harbour, Ship’s Point, and Chinatown, Victoria
Victoria, get ready to race! Celebrate the height of summer at the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market. Enjoy iconic dragon boat races in the Inner Harbour, exciting music and cultural shows on the Main and Patio Stages, marketplace vendors and bars, Chinatown booths, and more in the heart of Victoria.
Plus new for 2025- explore more of Victoria’s link to dragon boat on August 8 at Dragons on the Coast: Victoria’s Dragon Boat Story, a temporary exhibit open Thursdays-Sundays until September 7 at the Victoria Chinatown Museum! Friday in Chinatown, and Saturday in the Inner Harbour; Victoria- it’s time to celebrate the height of summer!
Race schedules will be published on the Race Info page on Tuesday August 5. Since 1994, the Festival has brought communities together through dragon boat activities. Come down this August and explore what we have to offer- all for free! The Festival is the Island’s original dragon boat festival, started during the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and is organized annually by the non-profit Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society.
Festival Activities
Harbour Air Stage
Celebrate the spirit of local, with live music on the Harbour Air Stage! Featuring an entirely local lineup, soak in the sun and celebrate the height of summer.
With the support of Harbour Air, TD, the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and the City of Victoria.
Race Program
The Inner Harbour comes alive as over 30+ dragon boat teams hit the water! Teams will sprint towards the finish line at Ship’s Point, in an intense display of strength and teamwork. Catch the races from the Ship’s Point Pier!
The Festival uses an international standard fleet of standard BuK boats, on an international standard 250M race distance.
VI Brewing Beverage Patios
Soak in the sun on our outdoor patios with great local brews from VI Brewing! Check out the VI Brewing Main Stage Bar and enjoy local live music as you celebrate another great summer day in Victoria.
19+ to purchase alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
Cultural and Family Activities
This family-friendly area has something fun for everyone! Grab a bite to eat from a selection of delicious local food vendors by the Harbour Air Stage, then join us in the Cultural/Family Activities Zone on the Ship’s Point Pier for free cultural crafts and entertainment. Plus, watch the races from front-row seats at our seating area, and grab a drink from the bar to enjoy on Victoria’s best waterfront outdoor licensed patio!
Lights of Courage
Help support the BC Cancer Foundation as they work towards a future free of cancer. Purchase a paper lantern for $5 and write a message of hope, love, or remembrance on its tag.
Hang your lantern at the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival and be a part of a truly moving show of support and community. Partial proceeds from each lantern goes towards supporting the BC Cancer Foundation.
Friday August 8
NEW EXHIBIT OPENING AUGUST 8 – Dragons on the Coast: Victoria’s Dragon Boat Story
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 August 8 to 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
Saturday August 9 Schedule
Partner Booths
- Canada Dry: Hydrate at the Festival! Visit the Canada Dry tent to enjoy FREE Canada Dry all day (while supplies last). Or, visit the Canada Dry tent along the Ship’s Point Pier to play games with a friend!
- TD: TD is proud to support our community! Enter into a draw to win prizes and enjoy other surprises!
- Harbour Air: Get set to explore the coast: enter into a draw to win prizes including air tickets and take a picture with Turbo the Otter!
Race Program
- Race grid available soon at victoriadragonboatfestival.com/paddlers!
- Heats, Semi Finals, and Finals
- Medal Presentations
Cultural Program
- Harbour Air Stage: Active from 12:00-6:00 PM
- Cultural Demonstrations and Activities on the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority Ship’s Pier: Active from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Marketplace and Vendors
- Food Trucks and Bar: Active from 11:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Vendors: Active from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Harbour Air Stage Schedule
