CAMBRIDGE

Entries are now open for the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival 2025!

Alternatively, you can download our PDF Entry Form fill in your details and send it to us by post at Unit 5 The Old Quarry, Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle, PE8 4HN or scan the entry form and send to dragonboatevents@newwave-events.co.uk.

Once we receive your entry we will send you an email with a payment link for card payment (2% transaction charge), an invoice for a bank transfer or you can send us a cheque for the right amount (Please specify how you are going to pay on the entry form). You can also pay by card directly via the online entry form. Once the payment is received, we will send you an acknowledgement email with a confirmation of entry and further information on the event*. If you are the assigned Crew Manager, we will be contacting you with any new information related to the event.

*Please note that your entry is not confirmed until you've received an acknowledgment email.

ENTER ONLINE NOW DOWNLOAD PDF FORM

Entry Levels

Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. No refunds will be given once an entry has been accepted and there can be no refund if the Festival or racing has to be cancelled due to conditions outside the control of NewWave Events. 

Standard entry - £700 + vat (£840)

• Dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment
• At least 3 races per crew
• Music and entertainment
• Trophies for the top three crews, the best-placed mixed crew (minimum 5 ladies), the crew raising the most money for Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, and the ‘best dressed’ crew
• Medals for the top three crews
• Special prize to be confirmed for the crew raising the most money for ACT
• All full-resolution photographs from the day available digitally

Silver Entry - £1,260 + vat plus £500 donation to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (2,012)

• Standard entry plus £500 donation to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, company logo on each side of one dragon boat, acknowledgment on the Festival website, online souvenir programme and commentary

Gold Entry - £1,720 + vat plus £750 donation to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (£2,814)

• Silver entry plus an additional £250 donation to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (£750 total), crew gazebo with chairs and full-page advert in our online souvenir programme

Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust and the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital

Our aim is to improve care for patients today at Addenbrooke’s, and for generations to come with new hospitals like the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

The new specialist cancer hospital is being built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, bringing together clinical and research expertise in a new world-class building, designed in partnership with our patients and staff. We will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.

Your donations will help to change the story of cancer. The breakthroughs and innovations we deliver will change the way we detect and treat cancer far beyond the new hospital, bringing hope to millions of people.

To get involved please visit www.helpyourhospital.co.uk

Tel: 01223 217 757 E-mail: events@act4addenbrookes.org.uk Visit: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk Facebook/actfundraising TwitterACTcharity Reg charity no: 1170103

All crews are encouraged to raise money for the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival charity Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust using the on-line giving information. All the fees from standard entries go towards the costs of running the event. The charity benefits only from sponsorship money raised, or from gold and silver entries.

Start raising money today!

Top fundraisers' prize

The team raising the most money for ACT will be awarded the charity trophy and receive a special prize courtesy of the Tivoli in Cambridge. The Tivoli will treat you to a round of golf for your team as well as six tear and share pizzas and 2 bottles of prosecco to go with it! For more information visit: www.thetivoli.co.uk  

Event Sponsor:

At Illumina, our mission is to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments.

Giving back is in our DNA, so we are proud to support the 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival to aid Addenbrookes Charitable Trust (ACT). This unique event connects us with our mission and is just one of the many ways that Illumina is giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

We are passionate about breaking down barriers for patients and accelerating access to genomics.  Patient support and experience is an integral part of the care journey, which is why we are honoured to partner with ACT.

To learn more about Illumina, go to our website and connect with us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Media Partners:

Cambridge 105 Radio

Cambridge Independent

Crew Gazebos

*Gold package includes a gazebo in the cost*

Each high quality unit measures 3m x 3m and comes complete with 12 chairs (more are available on request).

The gazebos will be situated in a good position on Ditton Meadows overlooking the racecourse and will provide an ideal base for your crew as well as shelter in case of inclement weather (or from the hot sun!)

The gazebos will be delivered and erected for you before the event and taken away at the end and all come with your company name board attached. We have managed to negotiate an excellent rate with our supplier and are providing them at cost plus a small administration fee.

Gazebos will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (max one gazebo per team entry) on receipt of the completed booking form below together with appropriate payment.

Please note that crews may bring their own gazebos but space will only be allocated after the paid gazebos by the start.

Booking Form

To purchase a gazebo if you haven't already included it in your online booking form you can fill in the gazebo form , fill in your details and send it to us by post at Unit 5 The Old Quarry, Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle, PE8 4HN or scan the document and send to dragonboatevents@newwave-events.co.uk.

A full list of food and drink vendors will be available closer to the event date.

Flypast

More information coming soon.

Attractions

Between races there is plenty to see and do (and eat!) on the bank. You can find out more about the work of Addenbrookes Charitable Trust and meet with our event sponsors.

View PDF Race Schedule

The full 2025 race schedule will be available here from W/C 1st September 2025.

View 2024 Results

Results

We have an online version of the souvenir programme as well as some printed Souvenir Programmes to help the environment and encourage sustainability. We’ve also introduced a LIVE RESULTS page for up-to-date race results on the day. The QR code will be given out on the day so it’s easily accessible by crews and spectators.

Advertise in the souvenir programme and promote your company’s services or products at Cambridge’s most spectacular corporate team event. With one click of a button your advert can be seen by thousands of participants and spectators!

• Expected event audience over 2,000 including more
  than 600 from Cambridge area businesses
• A5, full colour printed and online portrait publication
• Distributed free to all competitors, spectators,
  media and VIP's

Sizes and costs width x height

• Full page 148.5 x 210mm = £250 + vat
• Half page 148.5 x 105mm = £150 + vat
• Quarter page 74.25 x 105mm = £100 + vat
• For inside covers add 20% and back cover add 25%

File formats

• Ideally we require a high resolution PDF file with image resolution 300dpi for photos or drawings with scaling no more than 120%
• Fonts should be embedded into the pdf or set to outline in your application
• Safe area - any text or important items should be 3-5mm inside the edge of your document

Booking Form

If you haven't already included it in your online booking form you can download the souvenir programme booking form fill in your details and send it to us by post at Unit 5 The Old Quarry, Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle, PE8 4HN or scan both documents and send to dragonboatevents@newwave-events.co.uk.

*Gold entry package includes a full-page advert in our souvenir programme*

Please note that there is no water supply at the venue. Please bring your own. 

The Crew Manager will receive a full Crew Managers Information Pack following email confirmation of payment for the event.

2024 Photos

Please share them on your social media and tag NewWave Events and festival partners :) 

#cambridgedragonboatfestival

*Please note, participants and spectators must acknowledge the fact this event is in the public arena and therefore by entering the venue, this may result in the recording of his/her image.

Our photographer for The Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival 2024 is the award winning Magdalena Sienicka. 

VENUE ADDRESS – Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton, CB5 8ST

FREE PARKING – At the venue and village recreation ground

DIRECTIONS -  The venue is easily accessed from both the A14 and central
Cambridge. Entering Fen Ditton via the B1047, you will need to turn down Fen Ditton High Street. At the end, follow the track to the dragon boat site. Signs will give directions on the day.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING ON THE DAY?
We recommend you bring water supply to stay hydrated, sun cream in case of hot weather and a sun hat. We also suggest you bring a change of clothes too as you may get wet from splashes when paddling.

If you are the crew manager, please also bring your signed risk forms for your team.

Other than that you just need a bit of determination and team spirit!

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
On the day of the event we recommend you wear comfortable sports clothing and trainers or strap on shoes. Flip flops are strictly NOT allowed. 

Rain coats and/or hats and sunglasses may also be a good idea depending on the weather!

ARE PETS ALLOWED?
The event site is an open, public area so pets are allowed.