Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Vancouver

Rio Tinto Alcan - Dragon Boat racing has its roots in ancient myths and legends. It is an event over 2,000 years old in the southern China as a fertility rite held during the Summer Solstice to ensure plentiful crops and to avert misfortune. Early dragon boat races were mock battles to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon.


In 1989 former BC Lieutenant Governor Dr. David C. Lam and prominent businessman Milton K. Wong lead the creation of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival. The Festival was created to show off Vancouver's growing cultural diversity and to promote racial harmony among Canadians - new and old.

Vancouverites were invited to the festival to experience spectacular food, entertainment, arts and children's programming reflecting Vancouver's cultural diversity.

Twenty one years later the Festival still fulfills its mandate to promote cultural harmony among Canadians. It has developed into one of Vancouver's most anticipated summer family events. Recognized as North America's biggest and best, Vancouver's Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival 20th Anniversary was a true celebration of multiculturalism, attracting over 90,000 people and more than 180 dragon boat teams from across the Lower Mainland and around the globe.

The Dragon Festival Will be held this coming weekend June 20 & 21

Festival Entrances: 
1455 Quebec Street (south entrance)
At Concord Pacific Place at Quebec & Pacific Avenue (north entrance).

need more Info or looking to Join Dragon Boat racing? Visit Dragonboat Canada