Cornwall WaterFest
August 17 & 18, 2013
Lock 19, Old Cornwall Canal
(Second Street West & Power Dam Drive, near the Soccer Fields)
Held on the third weekend of August, Sun Life Cornwall WaterFest has quickly grown to become one of Cornwall's most popular summer events!
This year's edition of WaterFest will be staged at the historic old Cornwall Canal. In addition to the popular Dragon Boat Races, this year's event will feature an exciting Water Run, swimming races, ArtFest, a Strongman Competition, a Dragon Egg Drop and much more!
It’s all for a great cause! Funds raised from WaterFest go to the local office of the Heart & Stroke
Foundation to further work on heart and stroke research, health promotion and education. Did you know that heart disease and stroke is the number one cause of death for women, and that 1 in 3 people die from heart disease and stroke? By participating in Cornwall Waterfest, you can help make a difference!
Challenge yourself by joining or organizing a team and taking part in the Dragon Boat Races or one of the many other activities at the event! Come out and enjoy Cornwall's great waterfront with family, friends and co-workers!!
A little history
The Cornwall Waterfest Dragon Boat Race started in 2010, but springs from a long tradition. For over 2,000 years, crews have raced what are now known as dragon boats. One of the most popular athletic events today, dragon boat racing owes its origin to the suicide of a 3rd century BC poet.
Qu Yuan, of the Chinese Kingdom of Ch'u, is considered a national hero. He was said to have drowned himself in the Mi Lo River in protest of government corruption. The legend says that villagers attempted to recover Qu Yuan's body, beating drums and throwing dumplings into the sea to prevent the fish from consuming the poet's body.
From this poignant story, today's racing event has evolved. The 40 foot boats, powered by 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson, have become a familiar sight worldwide. Since 1976, Hong Kong has played host to the annual World Championships of Dragon Boat Racing and in North America, the sport enjoys a very high annual growth rate.
Many communities have adopted dragon boat racing as a tourism or fund-raising venture. Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto are just a few communities with a strong dragon boat event. They've caught on to the excitement of dragon boat racing and the potential for promoting community, outdoor recreation, team spirit and fun!
