Have you ever seen a dragon boat? Have you ever been to a dragon boat competition? If your answer is "What the heck is a dragon boat?," then you should be introduced. Allow me.
Dragon Boats are essentially 40-foot-long, narrow canoes painted in bright colors, with a decorative dragon head on the bow and a dragon tail on the stern. The ancient precursors to today's dragon boats originated in south-central China more than 2,500 years ago. Today, dragon boat races take place all over the globe and, most importantly, all over the southern U.S. Teams of (usually) 20 paddlers paddle a racecourse in unison, often to the beat that an on-board teammate pounds out of a large drum to help them keep a consistent rhythm.
The competition itself is a great spectator sport to experience live but what makes the event even better is the fact that dragon boat races are often put on as part of dragon boat festivals that are loads of fun. Together, they are colorful, intercultural experiences that can be enjoyed as a race spectator and as a festival participant.
"Dragon boat festivals are unique cultural events that bring together people from all parts of a community," notes Andrew Szymanski, executive director of the Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival and president of the Southeast Regional Dragon Boat Association. "The festivals are great tourism opportunities because there is so much more to a dragon boat festival than the on-the-water action. These festivals have diverse cultural presentations, food vendors, arts and crafts and educational opportunities for children. There are more and more festivals popping up across the Southeast every year and Atlantans can enjoy the excitement they provide while visiting some of their favorite southern cities."
Making all this even better is the fact that here in the sun-blessed South, watersports can be enjoyed almost year-round. There are dragon boat races and festivals in the South from March through November. Atlanta's biggest dragon boat event, the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, takes place at Lake Lanier in September.
If you enjoy watching dragon boat racing, you just might enjoy competing in a race. I had a blast a few years ago rowing for The Mad Paddlers at the dragon boat race on the Tennessee River in Knoxville. Investigate team rowing opportunities, as well as dragon boat event schedules, online at srdba.org/event-calendar.html, www.usdbf.org/events, www.gwndragonboat.com or at the website of a particular major event in your area.
Here's a sampling of five of the best dragon boat events in the Southeast, starting with one this month and moving forward. These are annual events that take place at approximately the same time every year. Check online for the precise date and time of this year's event. There are many more dragon boat festivals and, again, they are held in the South nine months of the year.
Montgomery Dragon Boat Race and Festival, August
Montgomery, Alabama's dragon boat festivities draw 70-plus teams from Central Alabama and beyond to Riverfront Park on the banks of the Alabama River in downtown Montgomery. In addition to the spirited competition at this three-day extravaganza, the event offers local food vendors, exhibitors and artists, as well as live music from the Amphitheater stage.
Montgomery Dragon Boat Race and Festival; Riverfront Park, 355 Commerce St., Montgomery, Ala., 334-625-8645, montgomerydragonboat.org
Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, September
Are you ready, ATLANTA?! The beautiful Olympic Venue at Lake Lanier will have a field of more than 50 teams psyched up and rarin' to paddle come dragon boat festival time. There is tiered seating for spectators, and the event offers a wide variety of Chinese artisans either performing or displaying their goods. It's quite a day.
Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville, Ga., 770-535-0397, www.dragonboatatlanta.com
Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival, October
When it starts to get a little chilly for watersports around Atlanta, head south to the Sunshine State for the 70 or so teams competing in the Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival, the largest event of its kind in Florida. In addition to the races, there will be a Food Truck Bazaar, Beer Garden and the Asia Trend Cultural Expo for displays and performances. The Walgreens Health and Wellness Village is designed to help participants and spectators lead healthy, active lives.
Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival, Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, 3401 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando, Fla., 416-962-8899, www.gwndragonboat.com/default.asp?id=orlando&l=1
Walgreens Space Coast Dragon Boat Festival, April
Spring is another good time to head down to Florida for a nice, warm dragon boat festival. Spectators can enjoy the show from Manatee Sanctuary Park on Cape Canaveral's Banana River. As with the Orlando event, there's a Food Truck Bazaar, Beer Garden and Walgreens Health and Wellness Village.
Walgreens Space Coast Dragon Boat Festival, Manatee Sanctuary Park,701 Thurm Blvd., Cape Canaveral, Fla., 416-962-8899, www.gwndragonboat.com/Default.asp?id=space-coast&l=1
Suncoast International Dragon Boat Festival, March
As spring begins to raise its flowered head, one of the first major dragon boat events in the Southeast takes place at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. Opened in 2014, this first-rate facility with a permanent state-of-the-art fixed race course tags itself as "Where World Class Athletes Come to Play!".
Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, Fla., 904-534-3266, www.suncoastinternationaldragonboatfestival.com
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