Dragon Boat Festival Celebrates 25 Years

Thursday, 10 July 2025 at 07:06

The Pharmasave Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival will return to the Pittock Conservation Area on Saturday August 9th.

WOODSTOCK - The Pharmasave Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this summer.

The event is scheduled for Saturday August 9th this year on the north shore of the Pittock Conservation Area. The racing will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., ending with the 2,000 metre final.

Thirty teams have registered so far with some local and others travelling from out of town. Each team should have 20 paddlers, one steer person and one drummer, so there will be lots of people in attendance next month.

The event is hosted by the Woodstock Rotary Club, which supports charities in Oxford County and beyond. Rotarian Dave Harris gives us an example of one of the local causes being supported by festival registration and sponsorship.

"South Gate Centre runs an Angel Food program and it supports people in Oxford County who have a home, but are poor and can't afford food. So they support that group very well and we want to financially support that."

The Rotary Club has also pledged to donate $17,000 per year over the next five years to the new Community Kitchen at South Gate Centre. It also funds a $200 Dragon Boat Bursary for young athletes who make the national team. Jane Mouland is one of them and she is competing in Germany this week.

If you are unable to sponsor or have no interest in entering a team, Harris says you can donate your time and volunteer.

"A lot of the work we have is around the docks and helping people in and out of the boats. So it's a lot of activity and you need to be good on your feet."

You'll also be able to stop by the festival to cheer on the competitors for free.

More information about the festival, registration, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities can be found online here.

Dave Harris stopped by the Heart FM studio to chat with Dan and Marcie on Wednesday July 9th. You listen to the complete interview below: