Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival returns to Del Crary Park on Little Lake in downtown Peterborough, Ontario, for its 25th anniversary. Since the festival launched in 2001 as “Liberty Mutual’s Day on the Water,” it has become the largest single-day fundraising event in Peterborough each year, raising nearly $5 million for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). The 2025 edition set a record at $400,104 raised. The 2026 fundraising goal is $325,018, a 25 percent increase over the previous year’s target, set deliberately to mark the milestone anniversary.

The festival is hosted by Survivors Abreast Peterborough Dragon Boat Team, founded in 1999, with presenting sponsorship from Kawartha Financial Services, which is marking its own 25th consecutive year in that role. Festival Chair Michelle Thornton and her planning committee have been building out anniversary programming since early 2026. Teams can register at ptbodragonboat.ca; the first three teams to register each year win a complimentary dragon boat lake practice.

## Race Day: What Happens on the Water

Sixty teams compete on a 200-meter course across Little Lake, a small, picturesque lake in the heart of downtown Peterborough connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway. Racing starts in the morning and continues through the afternoon in heats, so there’s always something happening on the water regardless of when you arrive. The combination of drumming, paddlers calling rhythm, and boats pushing through short, fast heats creates an atmosphere that’s genuinely compelling to watch, even for spectators who have never seen dragon boat racing before.

Beyond the racing, the festival includes artisan and food vendors, a Family Fun Zone with activities for children, a beer garden, and live caricature artistry, a returning crowd favorite that gives families a memorable and fast keepsake from the day.

> Quick Tips
> – Spectator access is free. Arrive early to claim a good viewing spot along the Little Lake shoreline at Del Crary Park.
> – Del Crary Park is in central downtown Peterborough, within easy walking distance of restaurants, cafes, and shops.
> – Parking in downtown Peterborough on a Saturday fills quickly. Consider arriving early or using city bus connections.
> – Donations to the PRHC Foundation can be made directly at ptbodragonboat.ca, even if you are not competing.

## Who Should Come

Corporate teams make up a significant share of the competitor field, but the event is entirely welcoming to spectators of all backgrounds. Families with children enjoy the Family Fun Zone and the visual spectacle of the races. Couples looking for a summer day that combines sporting excitement with community purpose find the festival satisfying on both counts. If you’re already cottaging in the Kawarthas for the weekend, Peterborough is an easy drive from most access points in the region and makes a natural day trip anchor.

> Good to Know
> – Little Lake is connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway, one of Ontario’s most historic canal systems. Canoes and small boats can be seen passing through the locks on the north side of the lake throughout the summer season, adding a backdrop of moving watercraft to an already water-heavy day.
> – The Peterborough Lift Lock, a short walk from Del Crary Park, is the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock. It’s free to watch boats lock through and is a worthwhile 20-minute stop for kids and adults alike.

## Find a Place to Stay

Peterborough is the southern gateway to the Kawartha Lakes, a chain of connected lakes and rivers stretching north through cottage country. If you’re pairing the Dragon Boat Festival with a longer Ontario lake stay, the Kawarthas offer some of the most accessible and beautiful cottage rentals in the province. Browse available properties near Kawartha Lakes on Lake.com to find a waterfront base that pairs well with a festival day in the city.