The Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, marking two decades of fundraising, racing, and community engagement.
The festival has grown to new heights, with a record-breaking 44 high school teams competing alongside 26 community and corporate teams at Jones Lake on May 30-31.
The event has raised more than $2.3 million, supporting the Lions Sick Children’s Fund and over 65 charities across New Brunswick.
One of the most emotional moments of the festival is the Carnation Ceremony, where breast cancer survivors gather on the lake to honour their journey and remember those lost.
Co-chair Carole Murphy of the Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival says it is both a moment of reflection and hope, making it one of the most powerful traditions of the festival.
Murphy also highlights the festival’s growing impact on high school teams, which have shifted from using funds for safe grad celebrations to supporting local charities alongside the Sick Children’s Fund.
Meanwhile, corporate and community teams are returning in greater numbers post-pandemic, with organizers working to help smaller workplaces form racing teams.
The festival’s history and impact
Founded in 2006, the Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival began as a fundraiser for the Lions Sick Children’s Fund.
Over time, it expanded to allow teams to support a charity of their choice, leading to donations for organizations such as the United Way, the Cancer Society, and local nonprofits.
Murphy said the festival is unique because no paddling experience is needed, making it a true team-building challenge.
“Nobody was necessarily an expert at it,” Murphy said.
“It’s really all about teamwork and working together and learning about the sport as you fundraise for a good cause.”
The breast cancer survivor teams have been part of the event since the beginning, with participants travelling across Canada and internationally for races.
During the festival, their tribute race is followed by a ceremony where carnations are thrown into the water to symbolize strength, loss, and hope.
The festival kicks off with the High School Challenge on May 30, followed by the Community and Corporate Challenge on May 31.
