About
What is the Newcastle Dragon Boat Race?
Newcastle's Dragon Boat Race is an annual event hosted by NE1 to raise money for charity whilst having a fun-filled day and bringing the community together.
The charity challenge sees the most adventurous of teams paddle down the River Tyne in dragon-themed boats, all racing for first place. Alongside the race, there's loads of fun activities taking place along the Quayside for those staying dry on land.
Gallery
Take a look at some snaps from last year’s event
FAQs
All the information you need to know
The race takes place on the River Tyne, along Newcastle's Quayside, on the stretch of water between the iconic Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge (alongside the Newcastle City Marina, in front of the Law Courts).
Team captains must arrive by 8:30am and races will take place between 9am and 4pm.
Each boat takes between 11 and 16 paddlers and a drummer, who is vital, providing the rhythm which helps unify the paddlers' moves
All the information on packages is below, read through and choose the one which suits you best.
Absolutely! Nothing beats healthy competition among colleagues. There are no caps on the number of boats you can book. You may even want to turn it into another challenge to see who can raise the most money for charity!
To book, please fill in the registration of interest form below. Please note that a £200 deposit is required to reserve your boat and that the full balance must be paid 30 days before the event.
No, if you'd like to watch from land on the day you're more than welcome to attend, and bring friends and family! As well as the action on the water there will be lots of entertainment and things to get involved in on land throughout the event.
The Charity
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
The Charity
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
This year, the nominated charity for the event, is the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. It’s a fantastic local cause, under the umbrella of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity. Efforts from the event will contribute towards raising vital funds towards their £10million target for the opening of a new research institute, that will support and deliver critical research and provide patients with access to early clinical trials.
Packages
Choose from the packages below for your Dragon Boat Race experience
Race Day Essentials Package
£800
- Includes boat
- Designated space for the team to sit throughout the duration of the day
- Water for the team
- Charitable donation
- Access to image album from the event
Race Day Plus Package
£1,100
- Includes boat
- Designated space for the team to sit throughout the duration of the day
- Water for the team and a drinks voucher for each participant
- Pizzas for the team
- Charitable donation
- Access to image album from the event
Register now
Register your interest to take part in the race
Other ways to get involved
Not racing? Not a problem! There are lots of ways to join in and support this fantastic event
Dragon Boat Race Raffle - We will be running a raffle where you can purchase tickets to support our charity and be in with the chance of winning some great prizes! If you're a business, we'd be very grateful for any donations of prizes for the raffle. Proceeds of the raffle go towards this year's nomination and deserving charity. Please get in touch at info@newcastlene1ltd.com to find out more.
Sponsorship Opportunities - We have a range of sponsorship packages available for the event to suit your business, with the opportunity for great exposure for your brand across the two-day event. In previous years, we have seen over 10,000 spectators over the Friday and Saturday. If you're interested, email rachel.fenwick@newcastlene1ltd.com for details.
Come and Spectate - It's free to attend! Bring your friends and family, enjoy the festival atmosphere and take part in the activities. There'll be plenty of donation points throughout the day to help support the incredible designated charity. There's something for everyone, whether you're on the water or cheering from the sidelines!