Dragons Are Coming to Grand Marais

     While the Tall Ships dominate the waters of Lake Superior near Duluth this weekend the Dragon Boats will take over the Grand Marais Harbor.  The Dragonboat Festival is coming and I’ll be there once again.

     This July 29-August 1st will be this year’s Northshore Dragon Boat Festival.  Wish us luck.

Our Mission – Paddling for Community

The North Shore Dragon Boat Festival supports the work of important regional non-profit organizations by raising funds through a community-focused summer festival that welcomes outdoor enthusiasts, families, and paddlers from throughout the Greater Midwest, Canada, and around the world. The festival engages individuals and groups in athletic participation, celebrates the beauty of the North Shore, rekindles people’s connection to Lake Superior, and benefits the region by fostering economic vitality. 

The Dragon Boat Concept

Dragon Boat racing is the fastest growing water sport in the world and, because of its extreme popularity in Asia, is rated the second most popular sport in the world according to Paddler magazine. In recent years the sport has taken off in North America and many major cities and regions in both the United States and Canada can now boast that it has a Dragon Boat Festival as part of its summer event schedule.

Dragon boats are provided by the festival, and are included in the registration fee. No experience is necessary! Coaching and practice sessions are available to teams the evening before and the morning of the races. While some teams are well-oiled machines, most are not! The goal is to have a good time and raise money for our non-profits.