Photo Credit: Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival
The Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this weekend, July 8-9, at Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo.
While the day will be full of races, cheering and teamwork – the main goal of the day is to help raise money towards cancer research.
"The Nanaimo festival is an important fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation and the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation. Thank you to all teams, paddlers and supporters participating in the “Make Every Second Count” campaign for the BC Cancer Foundation, as well as the Carnation Ceremony, proceeds of which go to the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation" in statement from the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club.
The first race will start at 9am on Saturday morning.
While one of the most fulfilling aspects of the event is the 'Breast Cancer Survivor Challenge'.
This portion of the day will begin at 11:45am on Saturday with two separate groups making their way into the water. Following the conclusion of the challenge will come the Carnation Ceremony at 12:15pm which will wrap up the Saturday morning portion of the event.
Besides the races, there will be plenty of events and celebrations transpiring over the weekend including:
- Kids’ Zone, Playbriola: 11am – 3:30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- VI Face Painting: 11am – 2pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Culture House, 11am – 3:30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- A Glimpse of India : 1030am – 4pm (Saturday)
- qw’uyul’ush ‘utl, :11am – 4pm, dancing, drumming, singing and protocols of Indigenous artist and families (Sunday)
- Annual SPLASHmob Performance: 4:15pm., Swy a lana Lagoon (Sunday)
- Food and retail vendors
Click here for more information on the event.
