Portland Dragon Boat Race Information Page
On this page you'll ind all the information about the race. Watch this page as the date approaches for additional and updated information
September 9th and 10th, 2023
Welcome to Portland for the 2023 Dragon Boat Festival!
Race Course
All races, except the the Race Around the Bridges final, will be 500m races.
The race courses will run adjacent to the RiverPlace Marina as approximated in this map.
See Info on the Race Around the BridgesThe race courses will run adjacent to the RiverPlace Marina as approximated in this map.
Visting Team
$1000
For teams more than 50 miles outside of the Portland Metro Area
Local Teams
$1200
For teams within 50 miles of the Portland Metro Area
2023 Race Registration Fees
Register by July 1 and save $100!
Additional Divisions
There are also several "Specialty Divisions" for Cancer/Breast Cancer Survivors, Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+), and an OPEN division. Cost for EACH specialty division team is $100.
Race Venue Location
The festival venue will be located at the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the Hawthorne Bridge and RiverPlace. Food vendors and the Beer Garden will be located just north of the Hawthorne Bridge; entertainment and merchandise vendors will be located just south of the Hawthorne Bridge.
The Command Center (information, registration, and volunteer check-in) will be located at the south end of the bowl area, adjacent to the RiverPlace Hotel. Team tents will be set up throughout the bowl area.
First Aid is adjacent to the Command Center.
View the Festival Location in a Larger MapThe Command Center (information, registration, and volunteer check-in) will be located at the south end of the bowl area, adjacent to the RiverPlace Hotel. Team tents will be set up throughout the bowl area.
First Aid is adjacent to the Command Center.
Team Check-In and Pre-Race Meetings
All team captains must check their teams in at the Command Center (located on the south end of Waterfront Park) before the Pre-Race Meeting on Saturday. The Command Center will be open for check-in on Friday afternoon from approximately 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and again starting at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.
All team captains and steerpersons must attend the Pre-Race Meeting on Saturday. We will also hold a more informal Q&A Pre-Race Meeting Sunday morning. The Pre-Race Meetings will be located at Marshaling (adjacent to the Command Center) at 7:45 a.m. both days.
All team captains and steerpersons must attend the Pre-Race Meeting on Saturday. We will also hold a more informal Q&A Pre-Race Meeting Sunday morning. The Pre-Race Meetings will be located at Marshaling (adjacent to the Command Center) at 7:45 a.m. both days.
Race Schedule & Brackets
Race Schedule will be posted when registration closes.
​Brackets will be posted the weekend before the race.
View Schedule & Brackets​Brackets will be posted the weekend before the race.
(NOT YET AVAILABLE)
Team Tents
Parking & Transportation
No Smoking!
Team Tents
DragonSports provides all teams with 10x10 canopies (property of DragonSports USA, please do not take home with you). The canopies will be staked and this is your assigned location. You may set up additional canopies, but please do not move from your assigned area.
Parking & Transportation
Public Transportation Options
The Portland Streetcar, MAX, and many TriMet buses run right near the race venue. Visit TriMet's Trip Planner & Interactive Map to plan your route downtown. Enter "WATERFRONT PARK SOUTH" as your destination.
The Portland Streetcar, MAX, and many TriMet buses run right near the race venue. Visit TriMet's Trip Planner & Interactive Map to plan your route downtown. Enter "WATERFRONT PARK SOUTH" as your destination.
Parking Options
If you must drive, there are several pay lots and parking garages near the race venue. The pay garages at RiverPlace are generally more expensive. We recommend Smart Park (SW 1st & Jefferson) and the parking garage across the street (on SW Jefferson) in the Columbia Square bulding.
Free street parking may be available Sunday morning. Parking meters are monitored Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.
If you must drive, there are several pay lots and parking garages near the race venue. The pay garages at RiverPlace are generally more expensive. We recommend Smart Park (SW 1st & Jefferson) and the parking garage across the street (on SW Jefferson) in the Columbia Square bulding.
Free street parking may be available Sunday morning. Parking meters are monitored Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.
No Smoking, Please...
Just a friendly reminder that all City of Portland parks, including Tom McCall Waterfront Park, are now smoke and tobacco free! This includes, but is not limited to, "bidis, cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, clove cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine vaporizers, nicotine liquids, hookahs, kreteks, pipes, chew, snuff, smokeless tobacco, and marijuana."
Violation is a misdemeanor which could lead to citation, the primary method of enforcement will be education. Patrons who refuse to comply with the policy may also be subject to a parks exclusion. Enforcement will be administered by PP&R staff and other Park Officers who have the authority to enforce park rules.
Violation is a misdemeanor which could lead to citation, the primary method of enforcement will be education. Patrons who refuse to comply with the policy may also be subject to a parks exclusion. Enforcement will be administered by PP&R staff and other Park Officers who have the authority to enforce park rules.
Rosters and Waivers
Roster and waiver forms must be completed for ALL teams. You can download all roster and waiver forms here.
Not yet availableRace Rules
Please review the race rules, which includes general info, regulations, racing rules, the protest procedure, and the Race Around the Bridges.
View the Race Rules