The Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival is back in full swing and is anticipated to be back to pre-pandemic levels. Fairway Gorge Paddling Club are the leading organization of the event. (Fairway Gorge Paddling Club)

By Jordan Davidson

volunteers needed

Volunteers needed as Nanaimo dragon boat festival returns to full speed

May 28, 2023 | 8:38 AM

NANAIMO — The annual Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival (NDBF) is returning this summer, hoping to get back to pre-pandemic numbers.

Race director Erik Ages told NanaimoNewsNOW while last year’s event was the first following pandemic-related cancellations, this year’s event will be back to full force.

“As a result, we need all kinds of people in addition to the staff that regularly runs these events. We’re looking for about 100 shifts over that weekend to assist with the race population that’s coming from all over B.C. and beyond.”

Volunteer positions include assisting with set up and tear down, clean up, security, and site ambassadors.

No experience is necessary to volunteer for the NDBF, and all are welcome to come down and watch.

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More than 1,200 athletes and 5,000 visitors are expected to participate, which takes places July 8-9 at Maffeo Sutton Park.

Ages said about half of the participants come from the Island, while the rest come over from the Mainland, Alberta, and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

“These are athletes from teenagers all the way to people in their 80s. Dragon boat is accessible to all kinds of people and abilities, that’s part of the joy of the event.”

The races are part of the Vancouver Island Race Series, which takes boaters up and down the Island during the summer for a variety of events.

It’s capped off by the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival in Victoria at the end of August.

Ages said the NDBF is the high point of the racing series.

“The first one is an event in Victoria that happened in May called Super Sprints 200 metres, then in Nanaimo early July it’s a full 500-metre race schedule, followed by what’s called guts and glory, where all of these teams get an opportunity to compete over 1,500 metres.”

The weekend will also feature food, music, and entertainment including a performance from the Crimson Coast Dance Society.

“We anticipate that the first post-Covid Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival will be sold out this year and we’re really excited about that. Any volunteers that want to pitch in and help out will be welcomed with open arms.”

More information on the 2023 Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival and how to volunteer can be found here at nanaimodragonboat.com.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow