Dragon Boat Races are a rapidly growing sport combining rich Chinese traditions, competition and community building. Experience a race this summer in Charlevoix.
The Charlevoix Circle of Arts will host the 2nd annual Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, August 3 at Ferry Beach Park in Charlevoix, and now is the time to put your team together for this fun Northern Michigan event. The festival is the Circle of Arts’ largest fundraiser, with proceeds helping support their mission to cultivate a more inspired and educated community through the arts.
“Anyone interested in joining or forming a team is encouraged to call our office or visit our website for information and registration,” says Executive Director Sarah Matye. “We currently have 12 teams signed up to participate, and our goal is to have 15–20 teams this year. We also have several sponsorship and volunteer opportunities available, which is another great way to get involved and support the Circle of Arts.”
The Dragon Boats will be 46’ long and feature a team of 20 paddlers and one drummer. The job of the drummer is to keep an effective beat to synchronize the paddlers. This person generally dresses in wild garb to represent their team. The boats are truly works of art, with colorful dragon scales, a dragon head and tail.
The Honorary Chairs for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival are Patti and Jim Anderson. “Patti and Jim are seasonal Charlevoix residents, boating enthusiasts and longtime supporters of the arts. As honorary chairs, the Andersons will conduct the Awakening Ceremony on the day of the race, ensuring the dragon vessels are ‘awakened’ from a deep sleep by dotting the eyes of the dragon with red paint,” Matye says.
Press release provided by Charlevoix Circle of Arts
