40 Days to Go: Calgary’s Dragon Boat Festival Brings Racing, Culture and Community Together

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Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forty Days Until the Drums Sound at the 2026 Sinopec Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival

Teams are training, volunteers are preparing and Calgary’s dragon boat community is getting ready to welcome the city back to North Glenmore Park

CALGARY, AB – June 29, 2026 – In 40 days, the sound of drums will carry across the Glenmore Reservoir, paddles will hit the water in unison and thousands of people will gather along the shoreline for one of Calgary’s most colourful summer traditions.

The 2026 Sinopec Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival returns to North Glenmore Park on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9.

Admission is free.

While the public sees two exciting days of racing and celebration, the work behind the festival has already been underway for months.

Teams have been practising on the reservoir since May. New paddlers are learning how to move together. Experienced crews are sharpening their timing. Steers persons, coaches, race officials and safety teams are preparing for the competition ahead.

Behind the scenes, volunteers are being assigned, vendors and performers are confirming their plans, race schedules are taking shape and the festival site is being prepared to welcome paddlers and visitors from across Calgary and beyond.

“Festival weekend may last two days, but it takes months of work to bring everything together,” said Danny Ng, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Calgary Dragon Boat Society. “At 40 days out, you can feel the momentum building. Teams are on the water, volunteers are stepping forward and all the pieces are beginning to come together.”

Two Days of Racing, Culture and Community

The festival will feature competitive dragon boat racing throughout Saturday and Sunday, along with cultural and community performances, food trucks, local vendors and family activities.

Visitors can look forward to:

  • Dragon boat racing on the Glenmore Reservoir;
  • Cultural and community entertainment;
  • Food trucks and the Dragon Marketplace;
  • The Trico Homes Kids’ Play Zone;
  • Family-friendly beer gardens;
  • The Breast Cancer Survivor Race and Pink Flower Ceremony; and
  • The Sinopec Dragon Boat Charity Race supporting Calgary Meals on Wheels.

The Breast Cancer Survivor Race and Pink Flower Ceremony remains one of the festival’s most meaningful traditions. Paddlers and spectators come together to recognize survivors, honour those who have been lost and support families affected by breast cancer.

On Sunday, the Sinopec Dragon Boat Charity Race will bring businesses, community organizations and public representatives onto the water in support of Calgary Meals on Wheels, the festival’s 2026 charity recipient.

Celebrating 34 Years of Dragon Boat Racing in Calgary

Dragon boat racing has now been part of Calgary for 34 years.

What began as a cultural and sporting event has grown into a community that includes recreational paddlers, competitive crews, workplace teams, breast cancer survivor teams, volunteers, coaches and families.

Since the Calgary Dragon Boat Society was established in 2010, thousands of people have experienced the sport through practices, Try It Day sessions, training clinics and the annual festival.

“Dragon boat racing teaches you very quickly that one strong paddler cannot move the boat alone,” Ng said. “The boat moves when everyone listens, trusts each other and commits to the same stroke. That is also how this festival has grown—through people working together.”

The sport has roots in a Chinese cultural tradition dating back more than 2,000 years. Today, dragon boat racing is practised around the world, but it continues to reflect the same values of teamwork, discipline, perseverance and community.

Plan Your Trip Before Festival Weekend

There will be no public festival parking at North Glenmore Park on August 8 or 9.

Visitors travelling by vehicle should park free at Mount Royal University Lots A and B or the East Gate Parkade, then take the free festival shuttle to North Glenmore Park.

New this year, festivalgoers can also take Calgary Transit to Anderson Station and connect with a free shuttle to and from the festival site.

Visitors are encouraged to choose their route before leaving home:

  • Driving: Park at Mount Royal University and take the free shuttle.
  • Taking transit: Travel to Anderson Station and connect with the free festival shuttle.

Shuttle schedules, pickup locations and updated visitor information are posted here…

Festival Information

Event: 2026 Sinopec Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival
Dates: Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026
Location: North Glenmore Park, Calgary
Admission: Free
Parking: Mount Royal University Lots A and B and East Gate Parkade
Transit Connection: Calgary Transit to Anderson Station, followed by a free festival shuttle
Important: No public festival parking at North Glenmore Park

Festival information and updates are available at:

www.calgarydragonboatsociety.com

Bring your family, gather your friends and get ready to hear the drums.

Paddles Up, Calgary!

Media Contact

Danny Ng
Co-Chair and Co-Founder
Calgary Dragon Boat Society
Email: info@calgarydragonboatsociety.com
Telephone: 587-803-1888
Website: www.calgarydragonboatsociety.com

About the Calgary Dragon Boat Society

Established in 2010, the Calgary Dragon Boat Society is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organization promoting dragon boat racing, cultural awareness, recreation, teamwork and community participation in Calgary.

The Society delivers seasonal practices, introductory paddling programs, training opportunities and the annual Sinopec Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival.

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FOOD TRUCKS

Merchants or Non-profits

Trico Homes Kids’ Play Zone

updated: July 9, 2026

Check out this directory for a weekend of exciting and memorable offerings of quality food, services and products to our participants and spectators.

Please visit the local to support local!!!

DateTime
August 8-910:00am to 5:00pm – Dragon Marketplace Operating Hours
NO PARKING AT NORTH GLENMORE PARK
Free parking & Shuttle Ride @ Mount Royal University

Vendor Booths (2026)

  1. Tupperware
  2. Carver Maker
  3. Young Living
  4. Telus
  5. RE-Makes
  6. Second Wind Soaps
  7. Forge Tech
  8. Trinity Trinkets
  9. Sweet Notes with Tea
  10. Haunted Calgary Productions Inc
  11. Bowness Soapworks
  12. Fox This Designs
  13. High Level Canoes and Kayaks
  14. Blings & things
  15. This Charmed Home
  16. Jolly ’23
  17. WhaleBeing Crochet
  18. Passive Aggressive Designs Ltd.
  19. Creative Coverups
  20. Merlyn  Jewelry
  21. Wicked Good Sauces
  22. Hidden Hills Tours
  23. Wolf Creations
  24. Handmade & Haida
  25. Perpetual Health and Safety
  26. Sheena Swiatek Creative
  27. Pearlux by Kelly
  28. Clever-Choice
  29. My Sweet Treasures
  30. TC Permanent Jewelry
  31. Bridgeland Elves
  32. Purely Pampered essentials
  33. Seven cities
  34. Valkyrie Potions
  35. Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society
  36. K&T Import
  37. JC TEA CORP
  38. Caribou & Co
  39. Cool Shirts 69
  40. City and Soil
  41. Untamed Fernie
  42. M3 custom metal design
  43. DoodlesbyPooja
  44. Mystic Spiritual  Healing
  45. Face4Fun
  46. Wood’s Homes
  47. Red Bull
  48. Loose islands hot sauce
  49. CARIBBEAN TASTE
  50. Canaberta
  51. Decor to adore by Tammy
  52. Matsa-a
  53. Sugar Rush
  54. CUPS

Lists are sorted in the order of registration.

SATURDAY

Breast Cancer Race & Pink Flower Ceremony

Special Event

SUNDAY

Sinopec Dragon Boat Charity Race

Special Event

Food Trucks (2026)

  1. Meat Street Food Inc.
  2. Lemon Heaven/Pucker Power Inc
  3. YYC Burgers and More
  4. Arepas Ranch
  5. Happy Hero
  6. Ukrainian Fine Foods
  7. Uzu ice cream
  8. The Family Fry Guy Inc.
  9. Softee King
  10. BBQ BOB
  11. Tmore Tea
  12. Mini Donuts Canada
  13. Sugarloaf Brazilian Street Food
  14. Tasty tacos and churros
  15. Zilford’s Fried Chicken
  16. the happy fish catering
  17. Istanbul bites Inc

Community Zone

Charity Recipient

Beer Gardens

Family – Friendly

Festival Recycling Team

STREET TEAM ON LOCATION

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