Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival wraps up eclectic 2019 summer festival

The Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival had racers and concert-goers flocking to Mooney’s Bay to enjoy some of the best free shows in the Nation’s Captial.

Friday night at the festival found tired athletes not ready to rest as Toronto’s Jane’s Party lead the party with their blistering power pop sounds into the Alan Doyle’s ever-welcoming traveling kitchen party.  With his mix of new favourites, Great Big Sea classics, and traditional Newfoundland folk, the singer warmly entertained the audience as they danced and enjoyed the beautiful summer night.

Saturday night took a decidedly country vibe.  Following the smooth, thought-provoking songs from Hamilton’s The Dill, Warkworth, ON’s Sacha brought her fun-loving songs to the warm Dragon Boat audience into the exciting rising country superstar, Jess Moskaluke; who had the athletes wanting more.

Closing out the weekend as the sun set on another successful weekend, the athletes were ready to rock, big time.  Ottawa’s dubé was full of their unique punk rock energy (and even introduced the audience to a very real guitar made out of a hockey stick), and even after a full weekend of racing and competition, the electric USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) brought the audience to their feet and into a joyful end to a wonderful weekend of concerts and racing.

For more photos from the festival, head to our Facebook page!

Emily Plunkett

Born and raised with thoughts and aspirations of becoming a famous bassist in Sarnia, ON; Emily Plunkett now lives in Gatineau, QC, and considers National Capital Region home sweet home. A product of the Beatles, MuchMusic and the Southwestern Ontario summer festival circuit (circa 2000), her interest and love in concert photography came almost completely by accident when her journalism program at Algonquin College required courses in photojournalism (and she quickly realized that photos taken at concerts using a DSLR are enormously better than ones she was taking on a point-and-shoot she bought for a trip to England). She is extremely proud of the fact she has seen Sloan in some form or another 25 times.