Mark your calendar for the first ever Dragon Boat Festival at Weirs Beach on September 25, 2021! The Festival will be a day of Dragon Boat races, a flower ceremony for loved ones touched by cancer, and fun for anyone racing or watching!
Dragon Boating is easy to learn, extremely safe, and an activity where men and women compete side-by-side towards the same goal. Dragon boats are long, narrow (40 feet long) boats. The crew consists of 20 paddlers, one steersperson at the rear, and one drummer who sits or stands at the head of the boat and beats out a paddling rhythm for the crew. Regardless of how young, old, big, or little: once a paddler is in stroke, they are contributing to their team! Add the outdoors, the water, the visual spectacle of dragon boating, and you get a perfect activity for friends and family! Absolutely no experience is necessary to participate. We provide the boats, paddles, life jackets, a time to practice, and the racecourse! We recommend about 21-24 participants per team, with both men and women participating. The minimum age to paddle is 13 years old.
Participation is easy – 1) create your team, 2) designate a Captain, 3) have the Captain register your team at the Gilda's Club NH website, and 4) agree to raise a designated minimum amount in donations for Gilda's Club New Hampshire. The Dragon Boat Festival benefits Gilda's Club New Hampshire's goal of opening a Clubhouse for men, women, teens, and children impacted by cancer. For more information, go to: Dragon Boat Registration – Gilda's Club New Hampshire (gildasclubnh.org) or contact Scott (603) 387-6775 - sjk@gildasclubnh.org