The Barrie Public Library is gearing up to host the 22nd annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival at Heritage Park on Kempenfelt Bay on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Presented by Tim Hortons, this is Barrie’s only on-water festival and brings together teams for a day of competitive paddling while raising money for local causes.
Since it began in 2003, the festival has raised over $2 million for more than 60 local charities, including the library’s Future Branches campaign. That campaign helped fund the opening of the Painswick branch in 2012. Last year’s festival saw 40 teams raise more than $100,000, a total not reached since 2019.
Tim Hortons has been the presenting sponsor for more than two decades. Their support extends to the Tim Hortons Little Paddlers Colouring Contest, which runs from August 1 to 16. Children can pick up a colouring sheet at any library branch, and prizes include Tim Hortons gift cards and Timbits for a year.
The festival takes place at Heritage Park, a waterfront park with a gazebo, gardens, a marina, and the iconic Sea Serpent sculpture. Spectators are welcome to come down to the shore of Kempenfelt Bay and cheer on the paddlers.
