The Dragon Boat Festival in False Creek

The 22nd Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival happens this weekend, June 19/20 along Vancouver’s Concord place, Creekside Park and False Creek.  This is a yearly competition in Vancouver.  There will be 180 teams from across the Lower Mainland and the globe competing.  The festivities begin Friday evening June 18  with the Eye Dotting Ceremony and continues for two days with entertainment, shopping, food staklls and the Dragon Boat Races.

The Dragon Boat Festival originates from an old Chinese legend about a poet/statesman named Qu Yuan who committed suicide in the Mi Lo River.  Crews of rescuers sped to him in narrow boats but couldn’t save him.  The 5th day of the 5th lunar month still unites paddlers who reenact the race to save Qu Yuan.  the sport began 2500 years ago in the Yangtze River in China and in the 1970′s was introduced to western audiences by the Hong Kong Tourist Board.  Now over 50 million paddlers from over 60 countries participate.

False Creek

The best place to view the Dragon Boat races is along the seawall that loops around False Creek.  You can watch crews assemble on the south dock of the Creek or go to the finish line at the north east corner between Science World and the Racers Village. The Cambie Bridge east deck is also an excellent vantage point and a favorite with photographers.

There will be entertainment on the World Beat Stage in the Plaza of Nations on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 6 pm.  Meet and mingle with people from all walks of life at the Silk Road Food Fest that will provide tantalizing exotic food from vendors. Alcan’s The Aluminum Chef competition takes place in the gazebo with 8 young chefs from culinary schools competing.  Competition is on the hour from 12 noon to 3 pm Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm Sunday.

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

False Creek (map)

Science World (map)

Plaza of Nations (map)

Dates: June 19 & 20

Time: Friday June 18 evening,  all day June 19 & 20

Admission: Free

For more information: Contact the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society: info@dragonboatbc.ca

Transit: Skytrain to Main Street/Science World; Canada Line to Olympic Village;  transit routes #3 Main/downtown; #8 Fraser/downtown; #15 Cambie/downtown

Photo credit: W. Ruth Kozak

Related places:

1. A
   False Creek Racing Canoe Club

   1318 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8, Canada

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2. B
   Science World

   1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Z7, Canada

   View Details and Book
3. C
   Plaza of Nations

   750 Pacific Blvd. S, Vancouver, BC, V6B5E7, CA

   View Details and Book