Let's go watch the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races!

Each year, on the 2nd Saturday after Memorial Day, the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association holds the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat races.

This race involves around 50 teams, Women’s, Mixed, Open, and High School, racing in the incredibly special traditional-style Dragon Boats from Taiwan. Each race has 4 teams compete by sprinting 500m down the Willamette River ending at the bowl in the South Hawthorne Waterfront Park where their flag catcher reaches out from the dragon’s head to capture their flag.

Sunday is when all the teams compete for their medals. Races run from 8:00 am till around 3:30 pm, when awards are scheduled to be given out.

I plan on coming down and watching the races at about 12:00 Noon until the awards ceremonies take place. There will be food and retail vendors, and many exciting races for all to enjoy.

Location: 1403 S Harbor Way, Portland, OR 97201.

The event is free and open to the public.

Click here for more information: Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races