Culture and community come together for one of Victoria’s beloved summer traditions when the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market returns to both the Inner Harbour and Chinatown this year.
While the history of the dragon boat goes back 2,000 years, in Victoria it dates back to when the region hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1994, when it was a demonstration sport, said society president Willie So.
Dragon boats are canoe-like vessels with dragon heads and tails raced by teams of up to 16 people as well as a drummer beating time to keep the paddlers in sync.
The next year the community approached a longstanding group in Vancouver to help launch the local version.
“Victoria had nothing – no boats, no team, no one knew how to go about doing it,” So said, noting the Victoria society formed in 1997. “It was a couple years of learning, but a lot of learning has been put into this cultural event. It would be such a shame to not have this continue.”
The sport has passed through generations now, as a former paddler who raced competitively for 15 years, So happily watches the next generation hit the water.
He’s inspired by, “how amazing and how strong this cultural event is in itself. And, how it managed to bring the community together to enjoy activities that many are still learning about – yet it’s been around for 2000 years.”
The event includes dragon boat races, food vendors and entertainment. Generally 40 teams compete in 250-metre sprint events in the Inner Harbour.
“Victoria’s extremely lucky we have that component right here in our back yard. We’re fighting to make sure this cultural event stays alive for the Garden City,” So said.
“As a former paddler, I would be extremely sad to see this event no longer around and the next generation not see what we have seen, enjoy what we have enjoyed.”
A new community exhibit Dragons on the Coast: Victoria’s Dragon Boat Story opens in the Victoria Chinatown Museum on Aug. 8. The 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. It runs through Sept. 7.
More than 30 teams take to the waters off Victoria for a spring to the finish as dragon boat races fill the Inner Harbour on Aug. 9.
That day the Harbour Air Stage features traditional cultural performances by Chinese Dance Victoria and Victoria Chinese Opera, Indigenous protocol with Esquimalt Singers and Dancers, lion dances by Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club; summer dance music from Aftershock and Hit List; and performances by local emerging artists Hot Pot.
Food trucks and pop-up patio bars will also be on-site.
Admission is free to the festival site, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more at victoriadragonboatfestival.com/visit
