Marina Del Rey To Host Its First Dragon Boat Festival

MARINA DEL REY, CA — Nearly 40 teams will compete at the first Dragon Boat Festival in Marina del Rey featuring a series of dragon boat races, live music entertainment, food trucks and an awards ceremony at Burton Chace Park on Saturday.

“The fast-growing sport of dragon boat racing is one that promotes cultural diversity and wellness, especially as this sport does not have any limitations in terms of age, ethnicity, sex, or religion," Nathan Salazar, Head Coach of the Los Angeles County Dragon Boat Club and Dragon Boat Festival organizer, said in a statement.

"Dragon boat races bring people together in a fun and exciting atmosphere," Salazar said. "We’re thrilled Marina del Rey is welcoming the first Dragon Boat Festival to their beautiful harbor setting.”

Dragon boat racing originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. The sport takes up to 20 paddlers seated in pairs along with a drummer sitting in the front keeping the paddlers’ stroke pace. The 40-foot boats are decorated with a dragon head at the bow, scales on the canoe, and a tail at the back.

The all-day festival in Marina del Rey will be fun for anyone paddling or cheering on the teams. Admission is free.

The festival is sponsored by Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marina del Rey Lessees Association, Caruso (Waterside Shops by Caruso), ProSUP Shop, Wahoo’s and Team DPW.

Teams have competitors in carrying ages from 10 to 70 years old. Some teams in the festival include:

• Los Angeles County Dragon Boat Club, whose youth paddlers will compete in the Club Crew World Championships in Florida this July
• Adaptive Fusion, a group of blind and deaf paddlers, also competing in the above Club Crew World Championships in the Para Dragon Division
• Los Angeles Pink Dragons, the first breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in Los Angeles.

Burton Chace Park is located at 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey. The races run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Opening ceremony is held at 10:30 a.m. and the awards ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m.