Parry Sound, Georgian Bay. June 15,16, 2007.
New this year:
CCWC Qualifier (Sport Category)
One-race CCWC Qualifier- Open and Women

Information at: www.dragonboatfestival.org

Make a family weekend of it! Paddle in the world's largest freshwater archipelago and take another day to explore this UNESCO Biosphere reserve and it's pure, clean water. Only 2 hrs from Toronto with cheap accommodation and great atmosphere.

Don't forget 15K OC1 money race between DB heats!!!

Is it possible to do both the Dragon boat race and the outrigger race ?

Yeah, it's possible to do both. OC races are held during dragonboat racing break. Last year was amazing, great racing, great people, lots of fun.

Parry Sound is the deal of the season. $750 , a Club Crew Worlds qualifier , on a beach with CLEAN water , you can swim between heats ! 2 hours from the GTA , quicker and easier to get to than the Island with free , close parking. Great beer tent and for an extra $15 you can race OC1 for $500 1st place prize money for men and Women ! Oc1 race is $30 if you are not dragon boating.

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"quicker and easier to get to than the Island "

Um, I've never driven to Parry Sound, but I'm pretty sure I can get to Toronto Island faster.

Nothing against your race, though. Have a good time.

Just out of interest, do you supply the OC-1's for the outrigger race? If not, not much of an incentive for the average dragon boat paddler, is it? But if you do, great value!

I have been to both Parry sound and the Island.Parry Sound is probably quicker to get to unless you live right downtown.Certainly less stressfull. In Toronto you must get to the water front , pay parking ($25/day),walk to the ferry , pay for the ferry ,wait for the ferry , walk at the Island. In Parry Sound the race is about 5 minutes off the highway , park free and then a short walk to the race site.
The other thing is that at the Island there is not much going on between heats and it takes 2 days.Just sort of hanging around. Parry Sound has entertainment , a beer tent and a beach. Sort of like Stratford with a beach and better course.
I enjoyed them both but for me the Island is an event you do because it is supposed to be a big deal. Then I sort of feel like been there , done that and I would rather go to othe events with good courses and more to offer than the Dragon boat race ; like Parry Sound , Sudbury ,Ottawa etc.

The island has nothing to do? It is the best actual dragonboat "festival" there is in Canada and if not the world. There is a massive vendor/cultural section on the opposite side of the island. There is Centreville, there are the Beaches. There are the tandem bicycles or the volleyball courts or the forest maze.

What are you smoking?

"massive vendor/cultural section on the opposite side of the island"

I meant opposite side of the athletes area.

Parry Sounds like fun (ha ha), but I still have to respond...

"I have been to both Parry sound and the Island.Parry Sound is probably quicker to get to unless you live right downtown."
- I don't live right downtown.

Certainly less stressfull. In Toronto you must get to the water front , pay parking ($25/day),walk to the ferry , pay for the ferry ,wait for the ferry , walk at the Island.
- No, in prior years I tend to drive to the parking lot right at Bay & Queens Quay, park the car, pay $10 for the day, walk directly onto the ferry with my prepaid ticket (I have done this before, not some friggin' newbie) and then walk from the Ferry to our teams prearranged tent site. Really, it's not a hassle. Some years I have taken the water taxi instead, but for the money, the Ferry is a better deal.

In Parry Sound the race is about 5 minutes off the highway , park free and then a short walk to the race site.
- of course, you're ignoring the part where you drive TO the highway and then drive for another 2 hours. Free parking sounds nice, though.


The Island is not a perfect race, but I am confounded by those who seem to think it's the world's biggest hassle. It's hardly that.

I am a Parry Sound guy (discaimer). The Island is a great festival. I have done it a couple of times and wouldn't have missed it.
Parry Sound is great as well , in a different way. Very good competition ; last year the top teams were , Parry Sound Canoe Club ( I know ,who ? but they won), Hanelei, Eat Trout ( 18 of us old guys did the 15K OC1 and ran out of steam in the final), Sudbury Chiros , Sudbury Canoe club. A pretty good final at almost any event. P.Sound has a lot of other stuff going on during the day ; a band , competative skipping, swimming, beer tent with a band etc. Not a world class cultural event , but fun.
The whole town is there. We have had over 1,000 local participants out of a population of 6,000.
There is the OC1 money race , free use of BUK boats on sunday, great camping and lots of touristy things to do.
And it is a REAL fund raiser , for the Hospital , very well run by volunteers.

And one of the most surprising things happened last year. After our 1st race we were lined up to get our picture taken. Everyone was quietly groaning because we all expected to be told how much they were going to cost. Instead we hear we're all getting a FREE copy, courtesy of the local Shopper's Drug Mart.

And the entertainment in the beer tent during the day included a steel-drum band. It was unusual to even consider a steel drum band performing in Parry Sound, but really cool to hear.

Yes "The Island" race is bigger & more prestigious & they're offering cash prizes this year, but Parry Sound was the friendliest dragon boat race I've ever attended, bar none.