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Drawn Metal Dragon Raffle
These dragons are designed by artist Devin Mack of Drawn Metal Studios. We will draw two lucky winners by the end of August. Click the link below to enter our raffle!
1 ticket = $10
3 tickets = $27
5 tickets = $40
Enter our Dragon Raffle!
Celebrate and support the Solomons Dragon Boat Festival by checking out our dragon raffle! We are raffling off these two beautiful wire dragon sculptures to raise funds and awareness for Southern Maryland Community Resources (SMCR).
SMCR creates events and opportunities for Southern Maryland residents with disabilities. Every contribution helps improve the lives of our friends with disabilities, offering social, recreational and educational opportunities they might not otherwise have access to.
Event Map
Here's our easy-read map of Solomons for the day of the festival!
We have vendors, teams, food trucks, local shops & restaurants... and, of course, exciting races on the Patuxent River.
General Parking is located in the field across from the Calvert Marine Museum. Shuttles run from this lot and make several stops on the island indicated on the map. Shuttles operate from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
We hope to see you there!
Vendor Village Map
Our 2024 Vendor Village is chock full of vendors selling crafts, jewelry, clothing, candy and more! We also have booths for some of our nonprofit friends, and lots of other vendors.
The Vendor Village is open to the public at 8:30 a.m.
Food trucks are located just across the street in the Team Village.
Dotting of the Eye Ceremony
Friday, August 16, 6:00 p.m.
Join us on the lawn of Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Solomons as we paint the eyes of the dragons to awaken them and wish them well in the races to come.
Approximate Race Day Schedule
Saturday, August 17
All timing is approximate and is dependent on conditions.
8:00 a.m.
Team captains will meet with our Teams Coordinator and 22Dragons representatives at the Muster area in the Solomons North parking lot. Drummer photos will be taken at this time.
8:30 a.m.
At the Gazebo, Presentation of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem
Our Vendor Village is also open to the public at this time.
9:00 a.m.
Races Begin!
10:00 a.m.
Our Exhibition Race takes place! Food trucks available for orders.
12:00 p.m.
Break for lunch. This timing is approximate.
We recommend you check out our local restaurants (or two or three!) and sample their specialty dragon drinks just for this event.
Specialty Dragon Drinks1:00 p.m.
Races resume. This timing is approximate.
3:00 p.m.
The final champions race will take place! Don't miss this race.
3:30 p.m.
Awards & Superlatives Presentations. This timing is approximate and depends upon when the day's races finish.
Witness the action!
See the final race from 2019. Experience the excitement as the best of the best competed for the trophy! Paddling in this race are: AMEWAS "Drag'n Butt"; Avian Engineering, LLC; and O'Brien Realty "River Rats". Want to see who wins? Check it out!
About Our Festival
The annual Solomons Dragon Boat Festival is a fun, family-oriented event featuring about 20 teams of paddlers competing for glory on the Patuxent River!
Saturday, August 17, 2024 will be a full day of dragon boat races complete with a parade of teams, entertainment, caricature artists, children’s activities, vendor village and awards ceremony. Events throughout the week include a traditional Dotting of the Eye Ceremony, practice sessions and a Flash Mob. Expect all this and more in 2024!
The event raises funds for SMCR and its members with developmental differences.
What is Dragon Boating?
The roots of dragon boat racing go back over 2,000 years to the southern provinces of China
Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a scholar and advisor to the emperor of the Chu Kingdom, jumped into the Mei Lo (Mi Luo) River in despair and protest against government corruption. Local fishermen raced out in their boats to save him, beating drums and pounding paddles on the river’s waters. They threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river to distract the water dragons and keep them from devouring Qu Yuan’s body.
Out of the re-enactment of this legend at annual festivals, dragon boating evolved into the sport we know and celebrate today in Solomons, Maryland and around the world.
Proudly Introducing Two New Divisions
We introduced two new divisions at the 2023 Solomons Dragon Boat Festival. These divisions fit well within the mission of our parent organization, SMCR.
Community Division
Our community teams make up the bulk of our current boats. These are typically local businesses and special interest groups.
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New: Paradragon Division
We were proud to introduce the Paradragon division in 2023 for teams with adaptive sports needs.
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New: BCS Division
We had our first official Breast Cancer Survivors division in 2023. We'll be excited to welcome these teams back to Solomons!
Register >