Rose Festival Dragon Boats Ceremony Set for Saturday

The 2022 Dragon Boat Eye Dotting Ceremony. The traditional Awakening of the Dragons is returning to Riverplace Marina. Proceeding the blessing ceremony representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle will visit the Portland Rose Festival Foundation office to present the Festival and the Royal Rosarian 100 made in Taiwan gift packs as a small token of support and friendship. The presentation will take place outside of the Rose Festival office near the Salmon Street Fountain.

Taiwan to show support and friendship to the Portland Rose Festival and Royal Rosarians with special gift presentation prior to the blessing ceremony. Awakening of the Dragons to introduce the ornate boats and their teams to the Willamette River and to start the preseason practice schedule leading up to the race event June 11 and 12, 2022. The traditional colorful ceremony with local and visiting dignitaries painting red dots on the eyes of the unique Dragon Boat figureheads to officially "wake" them up.

Event details

The presentation will take place Saturday, March 26, 10:15 a.m. at the Rose Festival office,1020 SW Naito Parkway, followed at 11 a.m. by the ceremonial eye dotting.

The blessing ceremony takes place at RiverPlace Marina Flag Circle,

South End of Waterfront Park Bowl, 0315 SW Montgomery St.

Beginning Sunday, March 27, each racing team will get three one-hour practice sessions a week with the boats to prepare for the June 11 and 12 competitions.  There are three race divisions: mixed, women’s and high school. 

Participants include

Daniel Chen – Director General Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)

Wu Hsiao-Chu – Cultural Office Director TECO

Chi-Chao Chen - President, Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association

Dave Todd – President Portland Rose Festival Foundation

Lili Rosebrook – 2021 Rose Festival Queen

Dwight Terry – Prime Minister Royal Rosarians