OPENING CEREMONIES

10:00 AM — Opening Ceremony (Main Stage)

The festival kicks off with a welcome to paddlers, performers, families, and the Austin community. A city proclamation honors the Austin Dragon Boat Festival and its 26-year legacy on Lady Bird Lake. 

10:15 AM — Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team (Main Stage)

10:30 AM — Eye Dotting Ceremony (Boat Dock)

The Eye Dotting Ceremony is one of dragon boating’s oldest traditions, rooted in over 2,000 years of history. A dignitary or honored guest paints the eyes of the dragon boats, symbolically awakening the dragons and giving them the spirit and sight to race. This ceremony connects our festival to the deep cultural heritage of dragon boat racing around the world and stands as a blessing over the day’s competition.

CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES 

10:45 AM — Cultural Performances (Main Stage)

10:45 AM – Austin Folk and Music Group 

11:15 AM – Okinawa Dance 

11:30 AM – Hawaiian Kona Isle 

11:45 AM – Austin Japanese Minyo Dance Group

12:00 PM — Drum Circle of the Dragon Spirit Ceremony honoring Breast Cancer Survivors (Boat Dock)

The Drum Circle of the Dragon Spirit is a unifying and healing experience that honors breast cancer and all cancer thrivers, while remembering and celebrating the lives of those we have lost. Through the shared rhythm of the drum, we create a space of strength, reflection, and community—amplifying hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit that connects us all.

12:30 PM — Cultural Performances (Main Stage)

12:30 PM – Austin Taiko

1:00 PM – iDance Performing Arts

1:15 PM – Love of China Dance Studio

1:30 PM – UriKarak 

2:00 PM – Austin Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe

2:15 PM – Hosanna Dance Group

2:30 PM – TX Wushu

2:45 PM – Kathak Rhythms

3:00 PM — Summit Lion-Dragon Dance Team (Main Stage)

CLOSING CEREMONIES

3:30 PM — Lone Star Dragons World Championships Send-Off (Main Stage)

Before the awards are announced, the festival hosts a special send-off for the Lone Star Dragons, Texas’s elite dragon boat team heading to the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan. Made up of top paddlers from Austin, Houston, and across the state, the Lone Star Dragons earned their place on the world stage after winning the 2023 U.S. Dragon Boat Federation National Championship and competing at the 2024 World Championships in Italy. Representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (TECO-Houston) will be on hand to receive the team as they prepare to represent Texas and the United States internationally. Join us in cheering them on.

3:40 PM — Race Awards Ceremony (Main Stage)

The day closes with recognition of the top teams across all divisions. Awards celebrate not only speed on the water, but the teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit that define the Austin Dragon Boat Festival.

4:00 PM — Festival Ends