Oriental Dragon Boat Race & Festival (17th Annual)

The 17th Annual Oriental Dragon Boat Race & Festival is a waterfront dragon boat racing competition at River Dunes marina in Oriental, NC, with teams of 20+ paddlers plus a drummer and steersperson competing in Mixed, Open, Women's, Cancer Survivor, Senior, and Youth divisions. The race day (Saturday, August 8, 2026) runs 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM and is paired with festival activities including live entertainment, food vendors, kids' activities, and a team parade.