In 2002, community partners presented the first Welland Dragon Boat Festival. Twenty-four teams and 600 competitors took part in the inaugural event. The second annual Welland Dragon Boat Festival held in 2003 had 1,500 participants, and in 2004 over 2000 competitors paddled their way across the finish line. Since then the growth has continued.
Years later the event continues to receive coverage in the local newspapers and other media outlets across Niagara. Dragon Boat racing is among the fastest growing water sports in the world. Almost every major city in Canada can now boast that it has a Dragon Boat event as part of its summer schedule.
The Welland Dragon Boat Festival is Welland’s premier water sports event. Dragon Boats are large flat water racing canoes constructed of solid teak and weighing 1500 lbs. Corporate and community teams made up of 20 paddlers, one drummer and a steers-person race in friendly competition.
Dragon Boating is user friendly and practically anyone, young or old, at any fitness level can quickly adapt to and develop a passion for this sport. Personal satisfaction, team development and friendship are just a few of the key words attributed to this sport by some of its participants. It caters to those who are competitive by nature as well as those who crave outdoor summer activity on our community waterfront parks.
Special Events and Races
- Practice sessions for teams will be held on June 9th 2023
- Participants have the opportunity to qualify for the Dragon Boat Canada Club Crew event. Dragon Boat participants have the option to choose whether they are using their Welland Dragon Boat Festival race as a Club Crew qualifier. If yes please note the requirements:
- The team must be registered with Dragon Boat Canada and all participants must be registered members.
2. Qualifying teams must follow Division I Rule of Racing; minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 of each gender.
3. All participants must present their DBC Member Card during the first race of the day, to be scanned by Festival Officials
$795.00 per team registered by April 7th, 2023 ($770.00 for multiple team registrations). After April 7th 2023, $895.00 per team ($125.00 off for multiple team registrations!)
Register by completing pages 3 and 4 of the WDB – Team application 2023 and emailing to info@wellanddragonboatfestival.com
Click here to complete your registration payment!
The Welland Dragon Boat Festival is organized by The Welland Heritage Council & Multicultural Centre, a non-profit charitable organization.
Welland Dragon Boat Festival
Welland Heritage Council & Multicultural Centre
26 East Main St. Welland, Ont.
L3B 3W3
Email: info@wellanddragonboatfestival.com
Tel: (905) 732-5337
Fax: (905) 732-0212
