Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival

2013 – The Year of the Snake!

The Painting of the Eyes during the Opening Ceremony at the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival.

Mark Your Calendars: Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Seventh Annual Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival, proudly presented by the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association, will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Help us to make it the biggest and best festival yet! Congratulations to Quicksilver (Festival Champions and winner of the Cuyahoga Cup), and the WonderBroads (BCS Champions and winner of the BCS Cuyahoga Cup).

A full listing of the race results from the 2012 Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival can be viewed here. The Festival takes place on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland's historic Flats at Nautica Entertainment Complex, 2000 Sycamore Street. Races will be 500 meters on the Cuyahoga River which, on race day, will be closed to all commercial river traffic.

The Festival acknowledges dragon boat history and its connection with Asian culture and will promote the people and unique cultures of Cleveland's Asian community. Dragon Boat racing incorporates high energy, fitness, team building and recreational exercise in a fun and competitive atmosphere! It is an excellent recreational sport for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. Individual strength is less important than teamwork, coordination and cooperation.

Proceeds from the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival will benefit The Gathering Place. The Gathering Place is a caring community that supports, educates and empowers individuals and families touched by cancer through programs and services provided free of charge. Join us for thrilling races, team spirit and fun on the banks of the majestic Cuyahoga River in Cleveland's Historic Flats. The races will be an exciting and exhilarating event!

Thanks to some of our volunteers, we have been keeping a public collection of photos from the Dragon Boat races over the years. You can view these photos by following the links below.

The Cleveland Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) also owns and operates three dragon boats on the Cuyahoga River. We are located at Rivergate Park, another gem in the Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace, that provides the only public access to the river's commercial navigation channel. All active members of the CDBA volunteer their effort to benefit families and individuals of all ages, as well as the business, civic and not-for-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio. Throughout the paddling season, the CDBA and Cleveland Metroparks provide a variety of teambuilding and recreational program activities to the Greater Cleveland community.