In May 2017, the races on this lake were called the Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival. It was in its second year and had grown from 14 teams to 28. On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the boats return as the Lake Las Vegas Dragon Boat Festival. Mad Dragon Foundation produces it in partnership with the Lake Las Vegas Master Association and Paddle Vegas Dragon Boat Club, and the organizers are calling it a revival. Team registration is already sold out.
That makes the sold-out race the least useful part of this story for anyone who wants to paddle. The festival's name, organizers and dates have changed several times. The steady part is a volunteer club based on this lake that takes new paddlers on the first Sunday of each month. The first Sunday of October is tomorrow, October 4. The next one is November 1.
Five Editions in a Decade, Each Run a Little Differently
Dragon boating on Lake Las Vegas has run as a string of separate events more than as one long-running festival. Each had its own organizers and its own season.
| Year | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival | First year, per Review-Journal coverage in 2017 |
| 2017 | Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival | Second year, grew from 14 to 28 teams |
| 2019 | Rose Regatta | Its 11th annual event, raising money for St. Rose's R.E.D. Rose Program |
| 2023 | Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival | Fifth edition and the first since 2019, after a COVID gap |
| May 2025 | Lake Las Vegas Dragon Boat Festival | Billed as the "First Annual," held at The Village |
| Oct. 2026 | Lake Las Vegas Dragon Boat Festival | Produced by Mad Dragon Foundation, described as a revival |
The Rose Regatta and the Nevada International festival were two separate events on the same water. The 2025 event was promoted by a Lake Las Vegas Dragon Boat Club and held over two days in May, with food, vendors and free parking. This year's festival keeps the 2025 name but moves to a single day in October under a different group of producers. Cody Winterton, division president for Raintree Investment Corp., the developer of Lake Las Vegas, called the festival "an annual tradition for our community." The tradition is real. It has just changed names, organizers and seasons along the way.
What October 17 Looks Like From Shore
Racing runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Village at Lake Las Vegas. Spectators get in free, and The Village's restaurants will be open all day. A sponsored notice in the Review-Journal says the City of Henderson is a sponsor and that teams are coming from across the country and from the Philippines.
The schedule has more racing than a single sprint. Community and corporate teams race 200 meters in 10-paddler boats. Club teams race 200, 500 and 2,000 meters in both 10- and 20-paddler boats. Racing classes include Paradragons, Youth, and BCS, the breast cancer survivor division. The short races go by quickly. The 2,000-meter race is the long one.
"Whether you're a dedicated dragon boater or a first-time paddler, we want you on the water or cheering from shore." Bobbie McCue, executive director of the Mad Dragon Foundation
Some details are still unknown. As of early October, the festival materials don't include a parking plan or a list of food vendors. The free parking advertised for the May 2025 event applied to that event only. Plan as if Village parking will be busy, and come early if you want a spot along the water.
Sold Out to Racers, Still Open to Volunteers
Race entries are priced for teams. A 20-paddler club or community team paid $990, and a first 10-paddler entry paid $770. That door has closed for 2026. Paddle Vegas is still asking for festival-day volunteers and has a sign-up link at the top of its homepage. Volunteering is the only way left to work the event from the inside. It's also a good way to meet the people who paddle on this lake the rest of the year.
The Club That Runs Between Festivals
Paddle Vegas is a 501(c)(3) dragon boat club based at Lake Las Vegas and run entirely by volunteers. Its mission covers youth ages 8 to 18, amateur competitors, para-athletes and people fighting or recovering from cancer. The club fields three special teams:
- Vegas Pink Warriors, the breast cancer survivor team
- Vegas Neon, the para-dragon team
- Vegas Miners, the youth team
New paddlers start on the first Sunday of each month. Experienced paddlers can join any practice. You don't need experience or your own equipment. You need a signed liability waiver, athletic clothes, water to drink and, in the club's words, readiness "for an Adventure!" The public site doesn't list practice times or a launch point. It asks people to RSVP through an online form or to contact the club by email at [email protected] or by phone at 702-333-2681.
Club dues for 2026 are $200. Discount codes cover Lake Las Vegas residents, breast cancer survivors, youth under 18, visually impaired paddlers and guides for Achilles Las Vegas. The membership checkout link still has "2025" in its address, so confirm the current amount before you pay.
The club and the festival also set age limits differently. Festival participants must be at least 14 to paddle. Paddle Vegas runs a youth team for ages 8 to 18. For a family with a 10-year-old who wants to paddle, the club is the way onto a boat. The festival is not. The club also credits Lake Las Vegas for supporting its work.
Festival Weekend at The Village, in Order
The race falls inside The Village's regular weekly schedule. The SouthShore Lake Las Vegas events calendar lists the October weeknight specials and markets around the race.
- Friday, October 16, 3 to 5 p.m. The Farmer's Market at The Village, which also ran on October 9. On October 9, the calendar also listed Latin Music Night at The Speakeasy starting at 7:30 p.m. The Speakeasy, at 10 Via Brianza #110, is 21 and over, open from 3 p.m. to midnight daily, with the kitchen serving Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17, early. Bayside Grill at the Reflection Bay Golf Club clubhouse opens at 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday and stays open until sunset, with views of the water. Racing starts at 8 a.m.
- Saturday midday. Sonrisa Grill, at 30 Via Brianza #100, has a lakeside balcony and fire pit and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Mimi & Coco Bistro at 40 Costa Di Lago serves outdoor lakeside meals from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. BellaLinda Gelateria at 40 Costa Di Lago #130 serves gelato, crepes and coffee for the afternoon heats.
- Saturday late afternoon. A&M Pasta Lab at 20 Via Bel Canto, Suite 100, sells fresh pasta and sauces to cook at home. Its directory listing shows Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Review-Journal reported it open by March 2025, so it's an established Village shop.
- Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m. The Village's free Saturday-night concert. For dinner nearby, Luna Rossa at 10 Via Bel Canto is open until 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and The Pub at 40 Via Bel Canto is open until 2 a.m.
After the race, the weekly schedule keeps going. The calendar lists Sonrisa's all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesday on October 13 and The Pub's two-for-one burger night the same evening. Across the lake, The Westin Lake Las Vegas at 101 Montelago Blvd. serves dinner at Marssa Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Rick's Café there serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
Getting on the Water Without a Drummer
If watching the races makes you want to paddle before November 1, Lake Las Vegas Water Sports at 15 Costa di Lago, Suite 100, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. You can reach it by call or text at 702-600-9860. It rents single and tandem kayaks, paddleboards, e-foil lessons and electric Duffy boats. Kayak and paddleboard rentals start at $40 for one hour and $60 for two. A standard electric boat starts at $199 for two hours, and a pink electric boat starts at $449 for three hours. The listings show no separate fall schedule and no resident discount. Text ahead before heading out on festival day, since the rental hours overlap the racing.
A two-hour kayak rental from $60 lets you paddle on your own this weekend. On a dragon boat, about 20 paddlers keep time to a drummer while a steerperson guides the boat. You can try that on November 1 without bringing any equipment.
If race day gets you thinking about which part of the lake puts your front door closest to the water, Patty Linson has spent decades learning Lake Las Vegas, from the Village promenade to the Reflection Bay fairways. Schedule your VIP home consultation, and we'll start with a walk along the shoreline.
