Bring Hope Dragon Boat Festival & Race – Event Details & Register

Join us for the Bring Hope Dragon Boat Festival & Race and help save lives through suicide prevention and mental health support in NW Florida. Whether you paddle, form a team, sponsor, volunteer, or donate, you are bringing hope to people who need it most.

How to Participate:


  • Register a Team – Rally friends, family, coworkers, or a community group and race together. Team registration is $1,100 through September 30, 2026, $1,200 from October 1–December 31, 2026, and $1,400 from January 1, 2027 until race day.
  • Join as a Paddler – Want to paddle but don’t have a full team? Sign up as an individual and we’ll help place you with a team or connect you with one that needs paddlers.
  • Donate to a Paddler or Team – Support someone you know, or give to a team or the event as a whole. Every dollar helps us provide education, advocacy, and life‑saving resources.


We are asking each team member to please raise a minimum of $100. That can be as easy as a few friends or family members giving small gifts, and every contribution goes directly toward our suicide prevention and mental health programs.

Event Details

  • Date: 17 April 2027
  • Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Location: Ft. Walton Beach Landing Park Downtown
  • Team size: Typically 20 paddlers plus a drummer (we provide the boat, paddles, and life vests).
  • Who can participate: Businesses, churches, schools, civic groups, families, and community teams are all welcome.
  • Why we race: Proceeds support Bring Hope Now’s mission to prevent suicide and promote mental health through education, advocacy, and community support. This year 2027 Funds will support building a Youth Residential Care Center in Ft. Walton as well as supporting our 42 School C.A.R.E. Crews.


Register or Donate Online

Use the embedded secure form below to:

  • Register a new team
  • Join as an individual paddler
  • Donate to a paddler, team, or directly to the event

After you complete your registration or donation, you will receive a confirmation email.

(Alternative link to open form in a new page)