Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival October 14 2023

LOCATION

Address: The event will be held at Bill Frederick Park (Turkey Lake). 3401 S Hiawassee Road, Orlando, FL 32835

Site Map: Stay tuned for the 2023 event site map. 

Park Rules: We're committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for participants and spectators. Before heading out to the races, there are some things you should know:

No dogs are allowed at Bill Frederick Park.

Cooking equipment and BBQ grills are not permitted on site.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on site. For a cold brew, visit the Beer Garden on-site.

Teams are responsible for picking up their waste within their team sites. In addition to handing out waste bags during team check-in, there will be wastebaskets located throughout the Athletes' Village to maintain the park's cleanliness.  Let's all work together to keep Bill Frederick Park clean and green.

Medical Services: Medical services and first aid will be available on site. If you're in need of medical attention, please report to the medical tent for immediate assistance.

SCHEDULE

The race schedule will be posted on Monday October 9th.

Industry Cup Races: To qualify for a Cup race, at least 70% of the crew must be part of the same company or industry. Please note, teams noted with a (C) are teams racing in the noted industry cup.

Bonus Racing

Time permitting, the top 3* teams in the Mixed division will compete in a 2,000m race. The top 3* teams in the Open, Women's, and Special Interest (ACP/BCP/PD) divisions will compete in a 200m race.

*Depending on the number of boats per heat.

Live Results
Get live race results and progressions on race day using your phone. Visit gwndragonboat.com/results.

Race Marshaling
Marshaling on race day will begin a half-hour before the first race of the day. Teams must be in the Marshalling area 30 minutes before their scheduled race throughout the day.

Race Day Check-In
Every Team Captain must check-in their team at Race Headquarters on race day. Registration will be open from 7:00AM to 10:00AM. All waivers must be completed prior to check-in. Please visit the FAQ section for more information on how to check in on race day.

For a speedy check-in, ensure that all waivers for your team are completed. The electronic waiver deadline is 11:59AM EST on Wednesday, November 15th. 2023. After this, only paper copies will be accepted.

Team Captain's Meeting
There will be a Team Captain's meeting in front of the Marshaling Area to discuss race day rules and address any questions, one hour prior to the first race.

AWARDS

Industry Cup Races: First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Consolation Finals: First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Grand Finals: Third and second-place teams will receive bronze and silver medals, respectively. First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Awards Ceremonies

Ceremonies will take place after each Industry Cup, Consolation Race, and Grand Final Race. GWN Staff will gather the gold medal-winning team as they come off the water. They will be escorted directly to the stage in the Beer Garden. Bronze and silver medal-winning teams will receive their medals in the dock area.

VENDORS

Marketplace

• Bath Fitter
• Color Street
• Dragon Saddles
• GWN Pro Shop
• Optimal SUP

Asian Cultural Expo presented by Asia Trend

• Asia Trend
• Chinese School of CAACF
• Florida College of Integrative Medicine
• REACH of Central Florida

Food Vendors

• A Lo Cubano Kitchen Food Truck
• Asian Street Eats
• Cosmos Ice Cream
• Frios Gourmet Pops Truck
• Fully Loaded Food
• Hibachi 88 Food Truck
• Indonesian Cultural Group
• Kona Ice Food Truck
• Mr. Softee Food Truck
• Orlando Korea Culture Center
• Pho Wheels Orlando Food Truck
• Smoothie Express Mobile
• Sweet Shiba

Interested in being a vendor? Email us at info@gwnevents.com to learn more. 

PARKING

Pre-Event Practice Parking

Parking will be available at Bill Frederick Park during practices on Thursday, November 16, and Friday, November 17 for $5.00 per vehicle (exact payment is preferred). Upon entering the park, please follow directional signs to the festival parking area.

Race Day Parking

Free parking will be available at Bill Frederick Park. Upon entering the park, please let the front gate know that you are with the dragon boat festival and follow directional signs to the festival parking area. 

Bill Frederick Park Front Gate will open at 6:45AM.

To help cut down on congestion in and out of the park,  carpooling to the event is strongly recommended. It is best to plan extra time so that you are not delayed getting to your team tent.

Download the parking map here.

Directions

From Jct of I-4 (exit 75B) & SR-435/Kirkman Rd-N: Go N 1.5 mi on Kirkman Rd, then W 1.5 mi on Conroy Rd, then N 0.9 mi Hiawassee Rd. (R)

VOLUNTEER

Looking to have some fun on the docks? GWN is always looking for fantastic volunteers.

As a volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to be a part of the exciting and fast-paced action that is dragon boat racing. You'll also get to experience the energy and excitement of the festival event atmosphere and be a part of a vibrant community of dragon boat enthusiasts. Volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks in ensuring the safety and smooth operations of the event through the various outlined tasks:

• Boat Marshalls: Will be on the dock assisting paddlers with getting in and out of the boats. This position should be filled by people who are comfortable around the water.
• Results Runners: Will be posting the results from the Timing Officials at the Registration Headquarters. This position requires neat handwriting.
• Team Marshalls: Will assist the Marshalling Manager in ensuring that all teams are ready to load into boats at the correct time to maintain smooth running of the races.
• Crowd Control: Will ensure one-way flow traffic from the Marshalling Area after boats are unloaded.

If you would like to volunteer, we can promise some food, drinks, a really cool shirt, and community service hours (if applicable) so please complete this Volunteer Form to join our team! To get more info or ask any questions, feel free to send us an email at volunteers@gwnevents.com.