In a thrilling final championship race, team Avalon Dragons Heart edged out Herricane Winds (Ottawa), the Rock Island Dragons and the Mad Hatters (Family & Friends) to win gold! A significant milestone in our team's history - for the first time the Avalon Dragons will appear on the Paddle in Paradise trophy! More results and photos to come!

Paddle in Paradise is going ahead today - see you at Octagon Pond!

Here is the schedule of events for Paddle in Paradise which is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Avalon Dragons. It is a fun filled day of dragon boat races, activities for the kids and food vendors. But also a moving and poignant day as we remember those we have lost from breast cancer. This year, there is a shuttle bus from the Paradise Double Ice Complex to the parking lot adjacent to to the Tim Hortons parking lot (from 7 to 4) ; there is a food drive for the CB

Here is the race schedule for the Paddle in Paradise Dragon Boat Festival. Best of luck to all our teams who are so generously participating in our annual fundraiser. We appreciate you all so much! And thank you to our amazing race sponsors! It is going to be an exciting day. Come cheer on the teams! This year you can follow the race results on our Race Results webpage.

The Avalon Dragons made the annual visit to Banished Brewing this week to see the latest batch of "Paddles Up" roll off the production line. It is a tart, vibrant sour brewed with raspberry & hibiscus. Fifty cents from every can sold goes straight to the Avalon Dragons. Thank you Banished Brewing!

They’re back! The Pretty Potty will return to our festival site this year! And there will be not just 1, but 3 posh potties to reduce the chance of line ups! Cleaned and freshened between customers! Just $2 per go or $5 for the day! Please bring cash.

"Community is a key value for us at Banished and some partnerships mean a little more. For the past four years, we've had the privilege of brewing Paddles Up alongside our friends at the Avalon Dragons. What started as a collaboration has grown into a friendship. We've watched firsthand the incredible community they've built through strength, support, and showing up for one another, both on and off the water. That's why we're proud to donate $0.50 from every can sold to help

Our community teams who are so generously participating in our annual Paddle in Paradise fundraising festival took to the water today in their practice runs. Some paddlers are brand new while others come with previous paddling experience. If today was any sign, it will be an exciting day of races next Saturday at Octagon Pond! We are so fortunate to have your support in keeping our dragon boat team moving forward and available to those dealing with breast cancer.

Thank you to Tim Hortons (Octagon Pond Location) for being a Championship Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "At Tim Hortons, you're always welcome. We're happy to serve you each day and even happier when we can work together to help make a difference in our community. That is why we are proud supporters of Avalon Dragons and proud to be part of our community. "

Thank you to Body Quest for being a Championship Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much! "Whether you want to heal from an injury or reduce the symptoms of a chronic illness, Body Quest Health and Wellness delivers quality healthcare and wellness services in St. John’s. Our focus is to ensure that you get the best possible healing experience from our thoughtfully tailored and personalized wellness programs."

Thank you to H&P (Helmerich & Payne) for being a Championship Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "Founded in 1920, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is committed to delivering industry leading levels of drilling productivity and reliability. H&P operates with the highest level of integrity, safety and innovation to deliver superior results for its customers and returns for shareholders. Through its subsidiaries, the Company designs,

Thank you to The Outfitters Adventure Gear and Apparel for being a Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "Locally Owned and Operated since 1998, The Outfitters is the local leader in Newfoundland and Labrador supplying specialty clothing and equipment for self propelled outdoor adventures. Get out on the Water with The Outfitters. Visit them in Mount Pearl for everything you need to enjoy the water. Swim wear, Life Vests, Sta

Thank you to Ocean Choice International for being a Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "Ocean Choice International, a proud family-owned Newfoundland and Labrador company, has been a key player in the Canadian seafood industry for over 25 years. Employing more than 1,400 people in over 300 communities throughout the province, the company is committed to sustainability at every step — from responsible harvesting to state-of

Thank you to Admirals Coast Retirement Centre for being a Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "Admirals Coast Retirement Centre is “Home” to 100 older adults. We provide support with activities of daily living along with a full recreation program. Home cooked meals, daily housekeeping, laundry/ironing, medication management, biweekly doctor visits, along with personal care assistance. Meeting new friends, exercising, mu

Thank you to The Morgan Group of Companies for being a Race Sponsor for the 2026 Paddle in Paradise Festival! Your support means so much to us! "The Morgan Group of Companies is a proud Newfoundland and Labrador company that has been operating for more than 50 years. As one of the Province’s established leaders in commercial real estate development and property management, we take great pride in contributing to the growth and vitality of the communities we serve. The spaces w

Thank you to Coast 101.1fm for being a media sponsor once again for our annual Paddle in Paradise Dragon Boat Festival! Your promotion of this important fundraiser and community event helps in so many ways. Your support means so much to us!

The excitement is building! Only one month to go for our Paddle in Paradise Dragon Boat Festival on July 18th!

Every year we look forward to Tim Schaus coming to NL to spend a weekend with our team, sharing his incredible expertise in coaching dragon boat racing. We learn so much from him and appreciate the time he carves out for us. His humour, warmth and compassion help us forget about the cold weather and we strive to absorb everything he teaches. Such a valuable experience for each and every paddler! Thank you Tim! And thank you to our steerspeople, coaches, and safety boat crew w

The Avalon Dragons will be embarking on a new adventure thanks to Janes Adey, Paul Pickett and Olivia Garrett from CBC's TV series Land and Sea! We are thrilled to be part of this iconic show - it is such a privilege for all of us. Stay tuned for more details!

Cool but calm - perfect conditions for the first paddle of the season on Octagon Pond. It is so good to be back on the water!