Town of Banff

Lake Minnewanka at 5 p.m.

The Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival gets started on Friday evening with the traditional "Dotting of the Eye" ceremony. Local Chinese monks will bless the 40-foot aluminum long-boats on the dragon head in this ceremony.

The cultural celebration continues throughout the Dragon Boat Festival weekend, with the performance of traditional Chinese dances in Banff.

The Dragon Boat races on Saturday, August 23rd and Sunday, August 24th will feature teams of ordinary Canadians paddling traditional dragon boats in a fire-breathing, nose-to-nose sprint across the lake.

Also see:

• Banff National Park Dragon Boat Races, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008
• Banff National Park Dragon Boat Races, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

More information:

• Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival