The eighth-annual Steveston Dragon Boat Festival kicks off this Saturday with an estimated 2,000 athletes from 72 teams competing in the water.
And with about 15,000 spectators expected to line the shores of the Fraser River, this year’s festival will likely be bigger and better than ever.
“It will be a big party for everyone,” said Ann Phelps, general manager of the festival. “We have various high-quality performances all day long, hot food available on the site and other activities. People are going to have a great time.”
Phelps said all programs are designed to promote diversity and inclusiveness while also paying homage to the ancient activity of dragon boating, which has its roots in Chinese culture.
Apart from local teams, there will also be teams coming from Washington State, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
Phelps told the Richmond News the races this year are going to be competitive, as some of the nation’s best paddlers will be going head to head.
“We have nine paddlers from the junior team of the Canadian National Dragon Boat team to join us this year,” she said. “They just came back from France. Some will paddle in the game; some will join us as volunteers.”
There is a large range of paddlers competing in different categories. In addition to elite teams, some paddlers will participate in the event for the first time, such as a team composed of paddlers from vulnerable groups.
“It’s a team made up of refugees, low-income immigrant youth, high-risk youth from Surrey and participants in Kid Safe from Vancouver,” said Alexis Gall, senior manager at Dragon Boat BC.
He noted that it is the first time this team has participated in the festival.
“The members are from the Philippines, India, Eritrea, Venezuela, China, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Vietnam and Iraq.”
In all, 72 teams will compete in 80 races between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Each one lasts one-and-a-half to three minutes, according to Phelps.
Non-athletes who want to try dragon boat paddling can also get involved, as there will be two dragon boats with 20 seats each for the audience to try out.
“They are always very popular, so come early to sign up,” said Phelps.
There will also be dragon boat building projects and heritage boats on the shore to showcase the process behind the tradition.
While watching the races, audiences can also enjoy a variety of live shows running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Performances will include a female mariachi band, a Vancouver-based acrobatics circus, Chinese dragon dancers and jazz performances. Entertainment for kids and fare from food trucks will also be available.
The festival takes place at an open site at Steveston Village, between the Britannia Heritage Shipyards (at Westwater Drive and Railway Avenue) and Imperial Landing.
The event is free, but all money raised from donations and T-shirt sales will be given to the Richmond Food Bank. Parking is available at Homma elementary school at 5100 Brunswick Drive for a suggested donation of $5.
