Dragon Boats Take Over Turkey Lake for Orlando's Big Paddle Party on Oct. 17

Orlando's about to trade theme-park queues for paddle sync. The International Dragon Boat Festival is racing onto Turkey Lake — and the shoreline looks like a party.

The Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival lands on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Bill Frederick Park (Turkey Lake), 3401 S Hiawassee Road, according to GWN Dragon Boat.

Teams from across North America and beyond race 500-meter and optional 2K formats, while the festival grounds fill with a Health and Wellness Village, Food Truck Bazaar and the Asia Trend Cultural Expo with live performances and interactive exhibits.

Race-day parking is complimentary for festival-goers (tell the gate you're with the dragon boats). The vibe: high-energy sport meets Central Florida hospitality under that unbeatable autumn sun.

Even if you're not paddling, bring sunscreen and cheer volume. Splashy doesn't begin to cover it.

Source: GWN Dragon Boat. Read the original article.

Looking for something fun to do? See what's on in Central Florida this weekend on EVVNT.

Photo via free stock (Unsplash or Pexels license). Cropped and resized for EVVNT.