Vancouver's Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival reveals FREE concert headliners
The continent’s flagship dragon boat festival is returning to Vancouver next month for its 37th anniversary, and it promises to be its biggest one yet.
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival will be held at Concord Pacific Place from June 20 to 22.
Over 200,000 visitors and racers are expected at North America’s biggest Dragon Boat celebration, which will include thrilling races, live concerts, vendors and food trucks, and more during the free event.
Terry Hui, president and CEO of Concord Pacific Developments Inc., is excited for guests of all ages to join the fun on the first weekend of summer.
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival
“We have been supporting the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival for all of its 37 years,” said Hui in a release. “It’s always a great opportunity for generations of families to have fun together.”
“Even more so now in these tough economic times, Vancouver community events like the Festival need to go on.”
Thousands of racers on teams from across Canada and around the world will compete in this year’s event. Races begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday and run every 10 minutes until 8 p.m. on Sunday. On the last day, all race rounds from 12:30 p.m. onwards will be for medals.
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival also features the return of TD Main Stage’s epic concerts with a 100 per cent local lineup.
Headliners include Canadian electro-pop star Lights, a four-time Juno winner known for hit songs like “Drive My Soul” and “Up We Go,” and Felix Cartel, a Vancouver-based DJ and electronic dance music producer well known for his viral dance parties as well as for winning Dance Recording of the Year at the 2020 Juno Awards.
Lights/iamlights.com
“We’re thrilled to return as the premier sponsor for the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival and welcome another stellar roster of local artists to the TD Main Stage,” said Julie Armour, senior vice president and Pacific Region Head, TD Bank Group, in a statement.
“We’re looking forward to kicking off summer with an incredible weekend of sensational competition on the water, captivating musical performances and celebrating the diversity that makes our communities shine.”
Other performers coming to the TD Mainstage include:
- NIKKAELA
- Tiger Really
- The Kuyas
- Coastal Wolf Pack
- Cindy Yang Dance Academy
- Toddy
- LEAN
- Royal Oak
- Eagle Song Dancers,
- B.C. Chinese Music Ensemble
- Ricecake Summer Solstice dance party
You can also check out the Concord Stage for more music, dance, magic, interactive activities, and a special workshop and performance by Vancouver Cantonese Opera. The latter includes traditional face makeup demos and free face painting for children.
In addition to the aquatic action and live music, there will be a Pride Pavilion, a Chinatown Pavilion, and an Indigenous Pavilion with community vendors, organizations, arts and crafts activities, and more to discover.
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival
The Festival is partnering with Got Craft for a huge artisan market with 100 exhibitors and vendors. An expanded family-friendly Community Zone will keep the little ones entertained with musicians, magicians, face painters, and balloon twisters. Ride on down to the festival for complimentary bike parking and bike tune-ups.
There will also be a Breast Cancer Paddler Pavilion in partnership with Abreast in a Boat, celebrating 30 years of breast cancer dragon boat paddling.
Paddlers and supporters from around the world can see artifacts connected to breast cancer paddling’s link to Vancouver, hear speakers, and discover memorabilia from around the globe.
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival
Of course, no summer festival is complete without delicious eats, and there will be over 20 food trucks on site serving up everything from Greek to Japanese, comfort food and desserts. And to stay refreshed, head to Vancouver’s largest outdoor licensed patio in the TD Main Stage Zone from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
“This year’s Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival will be our biggest and best ever, with a weekend full of races, music, culture, food, and programming that celebrates the best of Vancouver,” said Alexis Gall, executive director of Dragon Boat BC, in a release. “Best of all, admission is free, it’s easy and quick to get here by SkyTrain or bus, and we have something for everyone looking to get their summer off to a fun start.”
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival 2025
When: June 20 to 22, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver
Admission: Free
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