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Dragon Boat Race Registration 2025

Dragon Boat Race Registration | January 2nd-May 7th, 2025 | Register
Registration for Mixed, Women’s, and Open Division From 7am January 2nd, 2025 through May 7th.

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Race Weekend 2025

Race Weekend | June 7-8, 2025 | South Hawthorne Waterfront Park, Portland Oregon
Our annual traditional-style dragon boat race held during the Portland Rose Festival. Free to the public. Come and enjoy an exciting weekend of Dragon Boat Races and local food and shopping vendors.

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Awakening the Dragons

The eye-dotting ceremony, awakening the dragons, and blessing the boats marks the beginning of the 12 week long Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race season.

March 29th 2025 11 am – 12:30 pm
Outside the King Tide Fish & Shell, 1510 S Harbor Way, Portland, OR 97201
The Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PKSCA) is proud to present the Eye Dotting Ceremony, signaling the start of the 12 week long Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race season. A Buddhist Master from Portland Miao Fa Temple will conduct a formal Buddhist ceremony blessing the dragon boats.

The event includes the formal dotting of the eyes of the Traditional-style dragon boats by dignitaries, and a parade of dragon boats with a Portland Fire Boat display. The ceremony is free and open to the public. The event begins outside the King Tide Fish & Shell restaurant at the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel, 1510 S Harbor Way, Portland, OR 97201 and finishes on the Riverplace Marina docks. 

According to ancient Chinese culture the dragon is not a powerful animal but rather a legendary creature, a totem, or a symbol of god or the emperor. Dotting the eyes transforms a dragon painting into a real dragon, which would then fly away. Which is to say that life or spirit is imbued to a piece of artwork and turning it into a lively real thing, virtually awakening the dragon.

The dotting of the eyes involves painting open the eyes of the dragon head carved on the boats, which is done by dignitaries, including the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, and the Royal Rosarians, as well as the Taiwan Consulate General. Additionally, a blessing of the dragon boats takes place, where a Buddhist Master will conduct a formal Buddhist ceremony. The ceremony marks the beginning of the 12 week long Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race season. 

The event will be opened with a Chinese drum line performance! Local dragon boat teams will participate in a parade on the Willamette River, while the Portland Fire Boat puts on a display.

You can view past Eye-Dotting Ceremonies in our archives:
Archives: Eye-Dotting Ceremony

Schedule

  • 1100 Chinese drumline performance
  • 1110 Opening remarks & introduction
  • 1115 Incense presentation
  • 1120 Buddhist chanting and blessing ceremony
  • 1140 Dignitaries speeches
  • 1155 Proceed to Marina dock
  • 1200 Perform Eye Dotting Ceremony
  • 1210 River Fireboat water display
  • 1215 Launch all dragon boat fleet
  • 1230 Ceremony concluded