What you need for a dragon boat festival

A dragon boat festival needs more than boats and paddles. Your shopping list must cover water safety, race control, food service, weather protection and clear information for teams and spectators. Plan supplies by headcount, then add a small reserve for volunteers, late arrivals and damaged items. Drinks, shade, first-aid materials and waterproof equipment are easy to overlook until the event is already underway.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
Tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 120
Buffet tablesqty 4
Waste binsqty 10
Crowd barriersqty 30
Tableclothsqty 12
Parasolsqty 4

Sports equipment

Dragon boatsqty 2
Backup boat
Paddlesqty 50
Life jacketsqty 60
Dragon drumsqty 2
Start flagsqty 4
Lane buoysqty 20
Field linesqty 8
Stopwatchqty 4
Megaphonesqty 3
Bib numbersqty 150
Medal ribbonsqty 30
Trophiesqty 3

Safety

Life ringsqty 6
Throw linesqty 6
Emergency blanketsqty 10
First aid kitsqty 2
Safety vestsqty 12
Waterproof flashlightsqty 6
Warning signsqty 8
Non-slip matsqty 10

Equipment

Sound system
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Speakersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Power banksqty 6
Coolersqty 8
Food warmersqty 4
Barbecuesqty 3
Gas cylindersqty 3
Cash register
Payment terminalqty 2
Notice boardsqty 3
Whiteboard

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 250
Platesqty 180
Cutlery setsqty 180
Coffee cupsqty 80
Glass pitchersqty 12
Serving traysqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 12
Pliersqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 8
Ice packsqty 30
Thermos flasksqty 6
Kettleqty 2
Handwash sinksqty 3
Food containersqty 20

Decorations

Buntingqty 12
Dragon bannersqty 6
Table décorqty 12
Route signsqty 10
Program postersqty 20

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 8
LED lampsqty 10
Battery lanternsqty 8

Cleaning

Broomqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning cratesqty 2
Drying racksqty 2

Other

Rental formsqty 150
Pensqty 30
Wristbandsqty 150
Waterproof markersqty 12
Duct tapeqty 6
Cable tiesqty 200
Ropeqty 4
Cable tiesqty 100

Catering

Groceries
- Burger buns - 150 pieces
- Beef hamburgers - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 25 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 30 pieces
- Hot dogs - 100 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 100 pieces
- Hamburger sauce - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 5 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 4 bottles
- Fried onions - 4 bags
- Pickles - 6 jars
- Cheddar cheese - 100 slices
- Lettuce - 10 heads
- Tomatoes - 8 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Onions - 5 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 4 kilograms
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Potato salad - 12 kilograms
- Pasta salad - 10 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 8 kilograms
- Baguettes - 20 pieces
- Herb butter - 20 tubs
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Snacks - 8 bags
- Peanut mix - 6 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Ice pops - 150 pieces
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Cola Zero - 18 bottles
- Sinas - 18 bottles
- Iced tea - 18 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 120 bottles
- Spa Red - 48 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 cartons
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Beer - 180 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 cans
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 12 bottles
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 200 bags
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemon - 2 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 30 kilograms
- Barbecue seasoning - 4 jars
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 6 rolls
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer gel - 6 bottles
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Plastic gloves - 500 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 60 pieces
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles
- Toilet freshener - 6

Tips

Plan at least two drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per additional hour. Include extra water for paddlers, volunteers and safety staff, who may be active in the sun.
Buy or bring one life jacket for every person on the water, including paddlers, steerspeople and anyone boarding for a demonstration. Keep spare jackets available rather than counting only the registered teams.
Prepare a clearly marked first-aid point with first aid kits, emergency blankets, life rings and throw lines. Waterproof flashlights are useful if setup, pack-down or rescue work continues in low light.
Use separate supplies for the race course and the shore: lane buoys, field lines, start flags and a stopwatch belong with race officials, while bib numbers, medals and trophies stay at registration and the finish area.
Allow one covered serving or storage area for food and drinks, plus enough tables, bins and non-slip mats for the busiest section. Order dietary alternatives before shopping, using the registration details rather than guessing from team names.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drinks do I need for a dragon boat festival?: Estimate two drinks per person for the first hour and one more for each additional hour. Provide portable snacks for paddlers and volunteers, then order enough meal portions for every registered participant plus roughly 10% extra.
How many life jackets are needed for a dragon boat festival?: Provide one correctly fitting life jacket for every person who may enter a boat, including paddlers, steerspeople and safety crew. Add at least 10% spare jackets so a damaged or unsuitable jacket does not delay a race.
What safety equipment should I bring to a dragon boat festival?: Bring life rings, throw lines, first aid kits, emergency blankets, safety vests, waterproof flashlights, warning signs and non-slip mats. Keep rescue equipment visible at the start, finish and main shore access points, not packed away in one distant storage area.
How many tents and tables do I need for a dragon boat festival?: Use at least one covered area for registration and officials, one for food and drinks, and additional shade for participants if the site has little natural cover. Start with one table for every 6–8 people who need to eat or register at the same time, then add tables for equipment and prizes.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.