On Saturday, August 16, the dragons come alive on Kempenfelt Bay as we proudly host the 21st anniversary of the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival presented by Tim Hortons! Join us at Barrie’s waterfront starting at 7:00am on Saturday to enjoy the thrilling races, and support the growth of our community.
This unique event is Barrie's only on-water festival, bringing the city together at Barrie’s Heritage Park for a celebration of culture, connection and competitive paddling. This year, 40 teams are ready to make waves and paddle in unison while raising funds for local charitable organizations.
"This event has been taking place for over two decades now, and continues to be a community favourite," said Chris Vanderkruys, Director of Corporate Services at the Barrie Public Library. "Many returning teams have made paddling an annual tradition, and we’re excited to welcome a number of new teams who are experiencing it for the first time. The Barrie Public Library is proud to host this exciting annual event that showcases our beautiful waterfront and unites the community."
On festival day, four teams race at a time, with three heats taking place throughout the day. There are 20 paddlers on each boat, with a drummer up front setting the rhythm, and a steersperson at the back keeping the boat on course. The 300 metre race length requires over 2 minutes of intense, continuous paddling, making it a thrilling event to watch from the shoreline.
Since its inception, the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival has raised over $2 million for local charities, enabling significant community projects such as the Painswick Branch of the library. Each participating team chooses the local charity they would like to support, fundraising throughout the summer. The library's ongoing Future Branches campaign is a recipient each year, furthering the library's impact in the community.
Tim Hortons Continues Longtime Support
Tim Hortons "Fill Your Cup for Future Branches" provides complimentary beverages to attendees while collecting optional donations for the library
As the festival’s presenting sponsor, Tim Hortons reaffirms its commitment to making a positive impact in the community.
"The Tim Hortons Barrie Owners are proud to continue working alongside the Barrie Public Library to help make a difference in our beautiful city,” adds Johnny Mizzoni, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner. “It’s incredible to see our community come together for this amazing event, where the funds raised are reinvested in our community through the many charities who benefit. This is why we continue to be proud partners of the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival”.
In addition to the exciting dragon boat races, the event will also include a Tim Hortons Family Zone, with free family-friendly activities provided by the Barrie Public Library. Tim Hortons will have a beverage truck onsite, offering complimentary cold and hot beverages while collecting optional donations for the library's Future Branches campaign.
Throughout the month of August, families are invited to check out the library’s dragon-themed activities including the Tim Horton’s Little Paddlers Colouring Contest for ages 0-9, and Timbit Reader Days taking place at various Tim Hortons locations.
To learn more about the festival, schedule, and participating teams, visit barrielibrary.ca/dragonboat.