Vancouver, BC – Paddles up! This
year’s Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival promises to be as full of
fun as ever.
Celebrating its 22nd year in the
city, the Festival promises a full slate of racing, food, activities for the
kids and live music – and it’s open to all as there’s free admission.
Eye
Dotting Ceremony: 5 pm Friday, June 18 at the Concord dock
This colourful ceremony is performed by
Taoist priests to cleanse the course and speed the racers. It opens the
Festival each year.
Festival
dates: Saturday, June 19th and Sunday, June 20th
Hours:
10 – 6 pm
Location:
Concord Place, Creekside Park and the waters of False Creek
Races:
A new race starts every 12 minutes
Teams:
150 teams registered including teams from Texas and Florida.
This year organizers are pleased to
announce two days of top-notch professional entertainment on the World Beat
Stage. Hosted by Vancouver’s Cal Koat, the voice of world music in
Vancouver, it promises a global twist.
Paddlers are anticipating some of the best
competition on the dragon boating circuit and many look forward to the
grueling final race both afternoons – the Guts and Glory race. In
it, the top teams in each category paddle the 500 meter race course an
exhausting four times.
There’s always something to see on the
Rio Tinto Alcan Cooking Stage where Vancouver’s finest aspiring chefs will
put their culinary skills to the test as they prepare delectable dishes that
tempt the plate and inspire the mind.
For more information go to www.dragonboatbc.ca
