#San Diego International Dragon Boat Festival

[weekendadventurer]

San Diego International Dragon Boat Festival 2017 - Recap

This past weekend, I attended the San Diego International Dragon Boat Festival 2017! Phew, that is a mouthful! It took place at Mission Bay right across from Fiesta Island. Two full days of non-stop races and adrenaline. My good friend was participating in the competition, and I was merely there to enjoy the festivities.

Teams from all over the world had come to compete for a spot in next year’s big race, which will take place in Hungary. Only the team that takes first place overall get’s to move on to the bigger competition. Unfortunately my friend’s team did not make it, but they were so close! They won second place! Go AeroDragons!

My friend’s team had two rowing machines set up for warming up and practice. They’ve been modified to fit the needs of a dragon boat rower. As complete newbies at dragon boat rowing, my friend showed us the basics and had us give it a try.

We tried rowing for 30 seconds straight to see how far we could go. And that was already tiring enough. But then, we got peer pressured in doing a full 2 minutes; because to make it onto the AeroDragons team, they test how far you can row in 2 minutes. Since there were two machines, we turned it into a little competition and decided to race against each other.

All my friends each gave it a try! The team members were watching and coaching us as we rowed. Thanks to their words of encouragement, I made it through the whole 2 minutes. Unfortunately, I did not beat my friend but was complimented on my form! So, I’ll take that. But overall, it was really fun! I have even more respect for everyone who does dragon boat. It definitely is an endurance sport.

There were also a few food trucks and booths to help feed all the hungry dragon boat rowers! I grabbed a delicious pulled pork sandwich from Simply Fresh SD! (Food picture credits to @Noms.Daily)

For dessert, I got a waffle cone with summer fruit gelato from Sicilian Breeze. The lady was very friendly and you can sample the flavors!

We ended up staying until the end of the festival, which means we got to see a beautiful sunset.

I believe this festival takes place around the same time each year, so if you’d like to watch some awesome dragon boat races in San Diego. This is the event to go to! :)

[kimberlyakramer-blog]

THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO:  October 2017

September 30th – October 1st   Adams Avenue Street Fair  

September 30th –  October 1st  CRSSD Festival

September 30th  – October 1st  San Diego International Dragon Boat Race

October 1stMCSD 38th annual Mustangs by the Bay

October 1stThe 30th Annual XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon

October 1st  Priscilla Presley

October 5th   Taste of Old Town

October 5th  Dokken

October 5th - 7th  Meditation Retreat with Deepak Chopra

October 5th – 8thJoshua Tree Music Festival

October 6th   Super Diamond – Belly Up

October 6th  Depeche Mode

October 7thJason Aldean

October 7th -8th  La Jolla Art and Wine Festival

October 7th  Pacific Beachfest

October 7th  South Park Fall Walkabout

October 7th  Janet Jackson

October 7th  Hallow-Fest

October 8th  Taste of the Village – Carmel Valley

October 8th Coldplay

October 6th -8th  Polish Festival

October 4th -8th  San Diego International Film Festival

October 10th  Shawn Colvin -  Belly Up

October 12th  Taste of Carlsbad

October 12th  Brews by the bay

October 11th -17th  Fleet Week

October 13th -15th   Harvest Festival Del Mar Fairgrounds

October 13th  Bob Dylan

October 14th  Pub Crawl for Polio  - Pacific Beach

October 14thTate of North Park

October 19th -22nd   Extreme Sailing Season

October 21stStreet Food Cinema  - The Nightmare Before Christmas

October 21st  Jimmy Buffet

October 21st and 28thHaunted Tales Maritime Museum

October 24th  – Hanson  - House of Blues  

October 18thSan Diego Mac N’ Cheese Fest  

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND PARTIES October 28th  Monster Bash

October 28th  Nightmare on Normal Street

October 28th  San Diego Beer and Music Festival  Halloween Edition Liberty Station

October 28th  Buccaneer  Monster Bash

September 28th – October 31st - Savage House Haunted Attraction

OKTOBERFEST’S La Mesa Oktoberfest - September 29th – October 1st

Encinitas Oktoberfest - October 1st  

El Cajon Oktoberfest  - 1st and 2nd Weekends in October  

Ocean Beach Oktoberfest - October 6th -7th

Carlsbad Oktoberfest  - October 7th  

FOR THE KIDS Halloween Spooktacular - Weekends through October 29th

Boomont Park - Weekends through October 31st

Brick or Treat – Saturdays through October 28th

Haunted Aquarium: Sea Monster Mash – October 20st -21st

NEW SAN DIEGO RESTAURANTS Born and Raised  - Little Italy

Olive and Basil – La Jolla

Queensborough  - Gaslamp

Park 101 – Carlsbad

Pisco Rotisserie & Cevicherie– Liberty Station  

SOI 30th  - North Park –

Nom Nom Bento – Pacific Beach

The Smoking Gun – Gaslamp

Trailer Park After Dark – Gaslamp

Steamy Piggy – Kearny Mesa

HAUNTED HOUSES THE HAUNTED HOTEL When: September 22-October 31, 2017 The Haunted Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter is packed full of spine tingling, heart pounding effects that are so real they will keep you screaming for your life!

SAVAGE HOUSE When: September 28-October 31, 2017 What happened when a facility for the criminally insane was overtaken by the very residents it was designed to contain? The sanatorium had evolved in to a ticking time bomb, until finally…

THE SCREAM ZONE When: September 29-October 31, 2017 The Scream Zone is San Diego's largest and scariest haunted attraction, with three attractions in one location: the House of Horror, KarnEvil and Haunted Hayride.

THE HAUNTED TRAIL OF BALBOA PARK When: September 29-October 31, 2017 The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is a stroll you will never forget. As you walk the mile-long Trail, spine-tingling sights and sounds will leave you trembling.