REGINA — The Regina Dragon Boat Festival has returned to the Queen City.
The event brings hundreds of spectators to witness several competitions.
“We have different races, we have 200-meter qualifiers and finals, 500-meter qualifiers and finals [and] we have ladies in a mixed division,” said Amber-Jpy Boyd, president of the Regina Dragon Boat Festival.
Competitors will first dock near the Willow Bar before starting the race, which travels under the Broad Street Bridge and ends at Pine Island.
Boyd said eight teams are competing in different events, with one coming from Winnipeg.
One competitor in the event is Linda Kloschinsky, who has travelled to Malaysia, Puerto Rico, and Panama City for dragon boat racing.
Recently, Kloschinsky represented Team Canada at the 17th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Germany.
“It's an unbelievable honour,” she said. “This was my first time representing Canada.”
While Kloschinsky enjoys major events, she loves the Regina Dragon Boat Festival for bringing the community together.
”I'm able to paddle with my children, my grandchildren, and it just is a wonderful feeling.”
This year marks the 33rd year of the event, which Boyd said is thanks to collaboration.
“Having teams come out, having sponsors come out, having the community just come together to help and participate year after year is remarkable.”
A new event for this year’s festival is the noodle canoodle.
“It's kind of a relay race on our 200-metre course where there's a pool noodle pass off.”
Also included in the festival is a rose ceremony for anyone touched by cancer, a beer garden, vendors and more.
Boyd is hoping to see 500 people attend the event, as this marks her first year as president.
