1. Register your team

See the “Register Your Team” area for complete details on how to get your team registered.

2. Get your team together

Teams consist of up to 24 people, including up to 20 paddlers, one drummer, and up to three alternates. You must have at least eight female paddlers. The minimum number of team participants allowed to race is 16 paddlers and a drummer. All participants must be at least 14 years of age by your first practice. Full details are included in the official rules.

You have until your first practice to confirm your team roster.

Each person you recruit for your team will be grateful you did, because they’re going to have a great time!

3. Schedule practice time(s)

Each team is provided up to two practices. One practice is mandatory. The “Practice Information” section has full details on how to schedule practice(s) for your team.

4. Prepare your team’s “look”

A big part of the dragon boat fun is being creative with your team’s look, name, space in the Team Village, etc. Each team is expected to participate in the parade and opening ceremonies on Friday evening. You’ll want to make sure your team is lookin’ good! Team shirts, banners, flags, and any other creative ideas you may have to set your team apart are encouraged!

5. Get your team to the practice(s)

The practices are an important part of building your team unity, confidence, and success! Your coach/steersperson provided by the festival for your practice will teach you all about how to be competitive and have fun. Make sure each of your team members arrive early and have signed and returned a waiver to you. You will need to provide the festival registration personnel, who will be onsite for each practice, a signed waiver for each team member and a completed roster before your team can practice. Forms are available online in the “Resources” section so you and your team can complete them in advance and bring them with you to your first practice. See the “Practice Information” section for more details.

6. Set up your Team Village site

We encourage each team to take part in the Team Village. Each team is provided a space to set up and call home during the festival. Please see the Team Village section for more information.

7. Final registration and wrist bands

Before your team can compete, you need to stop by the registration tent, now located next to the Art Center building, just up the hill from the docks. Registration staff will confirm that your team has turned in the required participant waivers and final roster. At that time you will be given one wrist band for each registered team member. Each member of your team will be required to have their wrist bands on before they will be allowed to race. Registration staff will be on hand Friday from noon until 6:00 pm, so that you can get the wrist bands picked up before the opening ceremony and parade activities kick off.

8. Opening Ceremonies / Parade

Each team will be expected to participate in our fun and festive opening ceremonies. Dragon boat races are rich in Chinese heritage. Concordia Language Villages will be helping us keep those traditions alive in Bemidji. We will start with an opening parade of teams led by the staff and students of Concordia’s Sen Lin Hu Chinese language village and their wonderful dragon and drum crew. The parade will start in the Team Village (Library Park). Other traditional elements will be included to engage each team in the opening ceremony.

After the opening ceremony concludes, the fun will move to the Coors Light beer tent, where music, beverages, and your fellow racers and festival goers will celebrate into the night!

There will be a Team Manager’s meeting on Friday, immediately following the opening ceremonies (approximately 7:00 pm) by the docks. Race officials will provide important race information and last minute details. Each Team Manager must attend.

9. Race Day!

A complete race schedule will be posted to this site in advance of the festival, so you’ll know your estimated race starting times. Race times may be altered throughout the day, so each team will be expected to monitor the progression of the races so that you can be in the team staging/loading area 45 minutes before the start of your races.

Each team will have two races plus any finals your team may qualify for.

When your team is between races, there will be plenty for everyone to do. Cultural activities, children’s crafts, great food, music, and other entertainment will fill the day. And of course don’t forget that Crazy Daze is going on as well throughout Bemidji.

10. Awards Ceremony

Following the conclusion of the dragon boat races, an awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening. You and your entire team will want to be present as awards are given out for top finishers in the races as well as several awards for best team name, best Team Village site, and more. Concordia’s Sen Lin Hu crew will treat us to traditional ceremonial festival features.

11. Festival Fun

The fun doesn’t end there, as a full night is planned for the Coors Light beer tent and stage.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!