Saturday, August 19th was a beautiful day on Kempenfelt Bay as close to 700 paddlers took their energy to the water and paddled in unison to support of various charities! This year, the Festival welcomed 26 teams from various businesses, charities, government offices and groups of friends, of whom cumulatively raised $47,000.00 (and counting!) for various charitable organizations, including the Barrie Public Library’s Future Branches Campaign.
Whether you were racing in the boat or spectating from shore, Library staff would like to thank everyone for joining us to support this year’s event. Like any large-scale special event, the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival relies on its volunteers in ensure the day flows smoothly. A huge BPL thank you to our volunteer team who invested countless hours over the weekend to ensure all details were covered from set-up to tear-down.
Many activities were made possible throughout the season and on festival day with the support of our Presenting Sponsor, Tim Hortons. Throughout the summer, patrons were able to join us at complimentary Learn to Paddles sessions, some of which joined teams on event day! Tim Horton’s local restaurant owners played a key role in various ceremonies throughout the festival, fueling our volunteers, hosting fun incentives like the Lunch at Tim’s races, and of course offering on-site coffee and tea with the proceeds benefiting the Library. Thank you, Tim Horton’s, for your passion for the Barrie Public Library and dedication to supporting the community!
A very special thank you to all of our supporting sponsors, vendors, suppliers and community partners who helped make this weekend a great success. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Festival!
Paddles up!