Two Days to Go—Calgary Is Racing for a Cause!
Only two days remain until North Glenmore Park comes alive for the 2026 Sinopec Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival!
This weekend will be filled with exciting racing, cheering spectators, cultural performances, food, family activities and unforgettable community moments.
One of Sunday’s most anticipated events is the Sinopec Dragon Boat Charity Race, taking place at approximately 11:30 a.m.
For this special race, representatives from government, business, media, community organizations, sponsors and festival partners will exchange their usual roles for paddles and work together as dragon boat crews.
Some participants may be experienced paddlers, while others may be stepping into a dragon boat for the first time.
Once they are on the water, every crew must do the same thing: listen to the drum, trust their teammates and paddle together toward the finish line.
This year’s Charity Race supports Calgary Meals on Wheels, an organization that helps improve food security and quality of life by providing nutritious and affordable meals to people throughout our city.
The race may be friendly, but its purpose is meaningful.
It is an opportunity to:
❤️ Raise awareness for Calgary Meals on Wheels
🚣 Bring community leaders together through teamwork
📣 Encourage spectators to support an important local organization
🤝 Demonstrate what Calgary can accomplish when we work together
🎉 Celebrate community spirit in a fun and memorable way
We invite everyone to gather along the shoreline, choose a crew to cheer for and bring plenty of energy.
The Charity Race is only one part of an exciting Sunday at the festival.
Visitors can also enjoy:
🏆 Championship and divisional racing
🐉 The Albert Wong Memorial Cup Race
🥇 Medal and cup presentations
🍜 Food trucks and festival favourites
🛍️ The Dragon Marketplace
👨👩👧👦 The Trico Homes Kids’ Play Zone
🎶 Live cultural performances and entertainment
🍺 Family-friendly Beer Gardens
🏮 The Sinopec Community Zone
Festival medals are proudly sponsored by Budget Builder, helping recognize the hard work, teamwork and achievements of paddlers throughout the weekend.
Plan Your Trip
There will be no public festival parking inside North Glenmore Park.
Please use the free festival shuttle from:
📍 Mount Royal University — designated festival parking is available
📍 Anderson Station — accessible by CTrain, Calgary Transit bus and Park and Ride
Arrive early, allow extra time for shuttle travel and plan to stay for a full day of racing and celebration.
📅 Sunday, August 9, 2026
⏰ Charity Race at approximately 11:40 a.m.
📍 North Glenmore Park
🎟️ Free admission
Bring your family. Invite your friends. Cheer loudly and help us celebrate the people and organizations working to make Calgary stronger.
Every paddle stroke can help make a difference.
Paddles Up, Calgary!
#CalgaryMealsOnWheels #SinopecCharityRace #CalgaryDragonBoatFestival #CommunityImpact #YYCGives #DragonBoatRacing #CalgaryCommunity #BudgetBuilder #PaddlesUp
