We welcome you to the 2025 Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival. We look forward to having you attend this annual event, the 22nd anniversary of the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival!
Location
Maffeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo BC
Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival 2025
It’s WET. It’s WILD. It’s a weekend of fun for the entire family!
We're pleased to present the 22nd Annual Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival July 12-13 2025, at the spectacular Maffeo Sutton Park.
Click on the icon below to register now!
2025 Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival
On behalf of Fairway Gorge Paddling Club, we want to welcome you to the 2025 Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival. We look forward to having you attend this annual event, the 22nd anniversary of the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival!
There is a mixed division and a women’s division. Everyone is guaranteed 4 500M races, weather permitting. Note that the system for advancements is based on placement and time.
There is a set of 2 Breast Cancer Survivor’s Challenge Races as well as awards for top Survivor Challenge finishers overall.
This year we are happy to include both women’s and mixed Guts & Glory Challenges. Crews will begin the course in 15 second intervals. Overlap rules apply and time credits and penalties (and full disqualifications for penalties in excess of 10 seconds) will be enforced by water marshals. The fastest adjusted times in the mixed and women’s’ divisions win the Challenge!
Location
Festival Information
Paddlers’ Village
Smoking and/or pets are not allowed within the Paddlers’ Village (guide dogs for the disabled or visually impaired ARE permitted). Please protect your belongings; the festival is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Tents are available by pre-order at a rate of $100 (including staff set up and take down). Teams can bring their own tents if they want to avoid this cost.
Teams are not permitted to modify FGPC-owned tents in any way that permanently affects or damages their functionality. These tents are provided as a courtesy and are owned and maintained by FGPC, a non-profit society; please treat these tents with care.
**Note: For security and liability, only rostered participants (paddlers and non-paddlers) are permitted in the Paddlers Village. If you are travelling with children or companions please make prior arrangements for their supervision. FGPC and the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival and associated volunteers and security personnel are not responsible for the loss, damage or theft of personal belongings.**
Volunteers
We’re looking for people to do something great and volunteer at the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival. Not only will you be helping to facilitate one of the island’s signature summer festivals, you’ll be an invaluable part of a summer event featuring athletes and spectators, beer gardens, music and more.
To become one of our valued volunteers, click here for more information and to sign up.
Accommodations
Coast Bastion Hotel
15 Coast King rooms at a rate of $269 per night.
Nelly Ele - n.ele@coasthotels.com
The Grand Hotel
5 Club Queen Rooms at $215 + tax
8 Deluxe Rooms at $225 + tax
6 Club Deluxe Rooms at $235 + tax
Contact: Humam Al-tekreeti humam@thegrandhotelnanaimo.ca
Dorchester Best Western
Guest rooms with 2 double beds $229 plus taxes
Guest rooms with 1 bed $209 plus taxes
The Best Western Dorchester Hotel is conveniently located right downtown near the bustling Nanaimo Harbour offering excellent views, in-room amenities, including a Keurig K Cup coffee maker with complimentary coffee and teas, minifridge.
We also offer pet friendly accommodations for travellers with pets in our designated pet-friendly rooms.
Including free high-speed Wi-Fi, complimentary parking, a well-equipped fitness centre.
We have 3 different restaurants on-site : Breakfast is open 9am to 10:30am at Top Notch Burger in the lobby. And also Gourmet burgers, wings, and casual eats in a lively lounge environment. Big screen TVs showing sports and a full bar with seating available. If you feel like dining at the view The View Oceanside Grill Casual fine dining restaurant overlooking the downtown waterfront offering upscale local seafood, meat, and pasta dishes. Embers Wine & Charcuterie here on Site for you Romantic, low-lit cellar offering artisan cheese, cured meats, and local seafood with an incredible selection of wines and handcrafted cocktails.
Contact: Pelin Polat - sales@dorchesternanaimo.com
Refund/Cancellation Policy
There will be 25% administrative fee for all withdrawals. The final date to withdraw a team from the festival is June 21, 2025. There will be no refunds of any type after this date, including if the festival is cancelled due to safety reasons.
