Northampton Dragonboat Festival 2025

Sun, Smiles, and Splashing Success at the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival

Northampton Dragon Boat Festival made a mighty splash this weekend as crowds gathered at the picturesque Billing Aquadrome to enjoy a day of high-energy racing, community spirit, and sunshine – all in support of the wonderful local charity Ailsa’s Aim.

Under clear blue skies, teams of enthusiastic paddlers took to the water in striking 30-foot dragon boats, each with a dedicated drummer setting the rhythm. From local businesses to community groups, the crews gave it their all in a series of thrilling races that had spectators cheering from the riverbanks.

The festival wasn’t just about the racing – the atmosphere was electric from start to finish, with families enjoying picnics, live commentary, and the warm buzz of friendly competition. The final race brought the day to a dramatic close, with the top teams battling it out for the title and trophies. Emotions ran high during the awards presentation, where winners were crowned, and all teams were celebrated for their passion and sportsmanship.

The event also shone a spotlight on Ailsa’s Aim, the festival’s chosen charity, raising vital funds and awareness for the incredible work they do supporting families facing difficult health challenges.

With blue skies above and smiles all around, the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival was a true celebration of community, courage, and camaraderie – and the start of what promises to be an exciting annual tradition.

Bring on 2026! 🐉☀️

Photo Gallery

DId we snap you at the Dragon Boat Festival 2025? Check out our photo gallery to see who you can spot!

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Listen Again

We were broadcasting live from the event all day - listen to some of the highlights here:

New Wave Events

Ailsa's Aim

Wincanton Logistics Team

Truckfest Team

AGC Team

Finalist Teams

Winners

Dragonboat Festival Radio Commercial

Dragonboat Festival Final and Winners Announcement

Official Charity: Ailsa's Aim

As part of our commitment to making a positive impact, the festival is proud to Ailsa's Aim, a charity with an unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive support to individuals and families facing challenging health circumstances. Ailsa's Aim extends its compassionate services across more than 20 hospitals, wards, centres, and schools in the UK, offering a helping hand to patients battling cancer and families with babies in special care.

Niven, Founder of Ailsa's Aim, expressed his excitement, saying, " Having the opportunity to be the charity partner for this Northamptonshire dragon-boat festival is so special for us at Ailsa's Aim. We are tremendously proud to be part of this new annual event and are really excited that people and businesses from our local areas will be able to take part and help us raise much needed funds for our cancer and neonatal care packs while having fun in a terrific local venue. We can’t wait to meet you all at the waterfront!"

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the inaugural Northampton Dragon Boat Festival and contribute to a worthy cause. Join us on September 28th, 2024, for a day of dragon boat racing, entertainment, and community spirit!

For more information and to register your team, please contact NewWave Events at 01536 674 748 or visit https://dragonboatevents.co.uk/northampton-dragon-boat-festival/.

To find out more about what our charity do, how you can help, or to make a donation to Ailsa's Aim, please ’Get Onboard’ at www.ailsasaim.co.uk!

England and Wales Registered Charity No. 1188783

Facebook @ailsasaim

Instagram ailsas_aim

Call us on 07919536833