World Beat Dragon Boat Race is held at Riverfront City Park in Salem, Oregon as part of the World Beat Festival. The race course is 375m and includes 20 paddler boats. Our goal is to have two qualifying heats, semi-finals, and finals. Community Teams race a 375m course. As always, the river will be a part of your race challenge!

Save the date!
World Beat Dragon Boat Race is scheduled for
Saturday, June 27, 2026

EVENTS & RACES

World Beat Dragon Boat Race occurs on the fourth Saturday in June each year at Riverfront City Park in Salem, Oregon.

Course length: 375m.
Boat size: 20 paddler boats.
Heats: Two qualifying heats, semi-finals, and finals.
Course map: The start point is the south side of the Center Street Bridge connecting west Salem with Salem downtown, and the finish line is south of the Riverfront Park dock. Race course image.
Spectator admission cost: $XX per person.

World Beat Festival occurs all weekend where you can experience music, dance, food, and traditions of over 60 nations and cultures.

Food can be found within the Festival on the south end of the park or at nearby restaurants in downtown Salem.

We look forward to seeing you all in June. Paddles up!

Race Information

We hope you can join us at World Beat Dragon Boat Race!

REGISTRATION
Team registration.

ENTRANCE FEES
We use Zeffy for online payments. Note: Avoid the "donation" fee by selecting "Other."

EARLY BIRD: One 20-person club team paid ON or BEFORE 3/21/2026: $800.

REGULAR: One 20-person club team paid AFTER 3/21/2026: $900.

COMMUNITY TEAM: One 20-person mixed community team DUE BY 5/15/2026: $650.
Community team registration includes four practices with a coach and steer. Subject to the mutual availability of staff and time in the club practice schedule.

Please pay using the links above or make checks payable to Salem Multicultural Institute and send to:
Salem Multicultural Institute
RE: Dragon Boat Races
P.O Box 4611
Salem, OR 97302

NEED FRIENDS?
Only have half a boat of paddlers? We can help match your team with another team in the same boat!
Are you a freelance paddler who wants to race? Let us find you a bench!
Before registering, contact us at dragon@salemmulticultural.org.

Register

RACE SCHEDULE
Race schedule (coming soon!)
Race brackets (coming soon!)

TEAMS AND BRACKETS
Mixed Division
M (coming soon!)

Women's Division
W (coming soon!)

Community Teams
C (coming soon!)

ACS Teams - Exhibition Race (Open)
S (coming soon!)

Teams & Brackets

Read the World Beat Dragon Boat Race Rules (coming soon!)
Be sure all your paddlers sign the e-Waiver and mark "Racing/Festival Event Participant."
Team Roster Form - Please bring a completed copy to the check-in table by 8:30am.
Team Rosters are limited to 25 members, including drummer and steer.
Crews must have a minimum of 16 paddlers to race.

Rules & Waivers

Club teams may enter either Women and/or Mixed divisions.
Community Teams will race as Mixed Teams.
If there is time, there will be an All Cancer Paddlers (ACP) race with 2-4 boats, just before the Community heats.
Team Rosters are limited to 25 members, including drummer and steer.
Crews must have a minimum of 16 paddlers to race.
Mixed crews should be comprised of at least 50% women.

divisions

OTHER INFORMATION

‍Gear Drop-off & Parking
Drop-off passes will be mailed the week prior to the race. Drop-off entrance is at Union and Front Streets in Salem (Google map). There will be security checking for your pass.

Schedule &
General Information

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

7:15am	Race check-in opens.
7:15-8:30am	Please bring a completed copy of your Team Roster form to the check-in table by 8:30am. Team Rosters are limited to 25 members, including drummer and steer. Be sure all your paddlers sign a waiver and mark "Racing/Festival Event Participant": e-Waiver. Teams will be directed to their tent site. One canopy will be provided for each team. Teams may bring additional canopies.
8:15am	Captains and Steers meeting – meet at the announcer/marshaling area.
8:30am	Marshaling begins – race schedule is approximate.
9:00-9:45am	Women Round 1 heats.
9:45-10:30am	Mixed Round 1 heats
10:30-11:15am	Women Round 2 heats
11:15-12:00pm	Mixed Round 2 heats
12:00-12:30pm	Community Teams
12:30-12:50pm	ACS Teams (Open)
12:50-1:15pm	Lunch
1:15-2:00pm	Women Semis
2:00-2:45pm	Mixed Semis
2:45-3:30pm	Women Finals
3:30-4:15pm	Mixed Finals
4:15pm	After the finals, medals will be awarded at Marshaling area.

No parking available at the Riverfront Park - vehicles will be towed.
Parking structures within walking distance of Riverfront Park:

Water – please bring large water dispensers. There will be water available via a hose.
Trash and Recycle containers will be available. Please help us maintain this lovely park and do your part in separating your trash and recyclables.
Food Vendors will be available in the main World Beat Festival area.
Brackets will be posted on the website by the Tuesday before the race.

Each visiting team is requested to provide two volunteers.

Visiting Team Dragon Volunteers can sign-up for jobs here: Volunteer Signup (coming soon!)

World Beat Dragon Boat Club Members your sign-up is here: WBDBC Volunteers (coming soon!)

volunteers

Looking for a place to stay?

The Grand Hotel | 201 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301 | Phone: (503) 540-7800.

Hampton Inn & Suites | 510 Hawthorne Ave SE, Salem, OR 97301 | Phone (800) 774-1500.

La Quinta Inn | 890 Hawthorne Ave SE, Salem, OR 97301 | Phone (971) 374-2851.

‍There are many other hotels in the Salem area.