For the 18th year, the Rose Festival is proud to host the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association Dragon Boat Races.

kgw.com photo

Kai Ikaika paddles back to the dock after winning a heat during the 2005 Rose Festival Dragon Boat races.

Almost 100 teams compete, including a wide range of local, national, and international teams, with heats of four teams competing every nine minutes.

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The races are held along the large grassy section of the Willamette River. Cheering spectators line up to support their favorite teams at the finish line, near the Hawthorne Bridge.

The colorful boats are adorned with bright dragon scales and large heads that flag-catchers climb onto in the final moments leading up to the exciting finishes. The boats were made in Portland's Kaohsiung sister city, especially for this traditional Rose Festival event.

Date:

Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10

Location:

South end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park

More information is available at:

- Phone: (503) 525-1186

- E-mail: pkscaracedirector@hotmail.com

- Regular mail:

PKSCA Race Director

P.O. Box 80404

Portland, OR 97280

More coverage: Special Rose Festival Guide

 VIDEO: Rose Festival events, KGW reports

(The Rose Festival was the source for this information.)