Friendship Race 1 & Festival

1st Day of Dragon Boat Races at Lake Merced

The energy moves to the waterfront as the San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival comes to life at Lake Merced with a full day of racing, performances, and community celebration.

Teams from across the Bay Area—including corporate groups, youth, and novice teams—take to the water in a series of races that highlight teamwork, coordination, and shared effort.

Join as a Novice Team

Interested in getting on the water? Our novice division is designed for first-time paddlers and community teams.

Register Your Team