After the eyes were painted on the dragons in a ritual ceremony on May 1, the boats were carried shoulder-high through the streets.
五月初一「龍王祭」，要上香祭告龍王，並請出龍山寺供奉的「龍王尊神」遊行街頭，同時在福鹿溪畔舉行龍舟開光點睛的儀式。到了初五日，所有船員，就用肩扛了龍船，敲著鑼鼓遊行。所經之處，居民都鳴放鞭炮並燒香禮拜，所以有「五月五，龍船鼓，滿街路」的說法。