KC Pink Warriors - Media Blast 9/23/2025

Thrilling Races & Inspiring Stories at KC’s 2nd Annual Dragon Boat Festival – Sept. 27

📣MEDIA ALERT  
The 2nd Annual Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival

When: Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 9 AM – 4 PM
Where: Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS
Admission: FREE 

The Kansas City area’s fall dragon boat festival returns for its 2nd year, bringing together athletes, survivors, and cultural performers for a day of thrilling competition and community celebration.

Event Highlights:

• 28 Teams Compete – local, national, and cancer survivor paddlers

• KC Chiefs Connection – James Winchester sponsors Haskell basketball teams; Chiefs wives & staff form “Kingdom Queens” team, and Cheryl Toub, wife of Chiefs Special Teams and Assistant Head Coach, Dave Toub, competes on the KC Pink Warriors Team

• Eight Survivor Teams – including KC Pink Warriors paddlers (ages 38-72) with inspiring cancer survivor stories. The KC Pink Warriors were honored with the 2025 Win for KC Lockton Courage Award and are co-hosting the event

• Flower Ceremony – honoring survivors & loved ones

• Cultural Performances – KU and Rockhurst Lion Dance teams, Island Style Polynesian dance

• Festival Village – health & wellness booths, food trucks & vendors

Schedule of Events (Subject to change):

• 8:15 AM – National Anthem by KC Symphony Chorus (Opening Ceremony)

• 8:45 AM  – Racing begins

• 11:00 AM - KC Institute of Chinese Language & Culture Dance Group

• 12:00 PM – Survivor Flower Ceremony (signature visual moment)
  12:30  - 3 PM- Various cultural performances 

• 3:00 PM – Final Medal Races (championship-level excitement)

• 4:00 PM – Closing Medal Ceremony & Grand Prize Raffle

Why Cover This?

.📷 Strong Media opportunities:

• Pre-Event Features: Meet survivor paddlers, corporate teams, or athletes connected to Chiefs before race day. Friday (9/26), 5-7 PM, will feature team practices and a bonfire social for the teams.

• Event Day: Action-packed race photography; feature interviews with participants, survivors, and sponsors; cultural performance coverage; community impact stories

• Story angles

• The intersection of sports therapy and cancer recovery

• How dragon boat racing builds community among survivors

• The contrast between fierce competition and a supportive community atmosphere

• The cultural bridge-building aspect (Chinese traditions in Kansas City) 

• Cultural education piece about dragon boat traditions and significance

• Survivor spotlight: How dragon boat racing aids recovery/community

• Free family entertainment in an era of expensive events

• Fundraising event: A portion of the proceeds will be donated to help women take their bodies back from cancer

 💡 Teams are still recruiting – individuals, community, corporate, and traveling crews welcome!

👉 More info & registration: https://www.kcpinkwarriors.org/kc-festival
👉 Media Inquiries: pr.kcpinkwarriors@gmail.com

Resources:

2024 Video Highlights
2024 Photos

We look forward to working with you!

KC dragon boat festival in the media