After learning that the Annual Hope Chest Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival would no longer be held at the Outer Harbor (this past summer), it was decided that prudent measures should be taken to woo the event back to the waterfront. The race was held at Baird Point at UB’s North Campus this past June, and while it was great to see the annual tradition continued, the racers (and the hoopla that surrounds the festival) were sorely missed.
Now that RiverWorks is complete, the festival will be returning to the city on Saturday, June 18, 2016. Spectators will be able to have plenty of viewing space to watch the race at this spectacular venue along the Buffalo River. There will also be plenty of food and drink, parking, water access, room for vendors, protection from the elements, live music and children’s activities at the free festival.
The Annual Hope Chest Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival features 80 out-of-town and local teams, competing to raise money for Luminina (operating as Hope Chest) an organization that provides free support for breast cancer survivors through nutrition classes, exercise (including paddling training), and emotional support. Corporations, organizations, breast cancer survivors and support groups are invited to field a team in 2016.
Team registration, sponsorship, and additional details can be found at www.hopechestbuffalo.org and this Facebook page.