30 Oneida County
Photo by Dean S. Acheson
Dragon Boat Festival will unleash the fun MINOCQUA – They’re going at it again. The Dragon Boat paddlers have waited all year to show off their mettle and friendly competitive spirit at the fourth annual Dragon Boat Festival, which, this year, will be Saturday, Aug. 17, on Lake Minocqua. The event is a fundraiser for the Howard Young Foundation. In the first three years alone, the festival raised $620,000, which helped fund local healthcare initiatives for local communities. The organizers provide the boats, steerperson, paddles, PFDs and some training. Spectator admission is free. Spectators can catch all the action from the beach at Torpy Park.
Then at 9 a.m., the first three teams will be summoned to board their 45-foot “dragon boats,” paddles in the air, and then furious paddling of the 300-meter course. About 3 p.m. will be the finals, pitting the top six teams in the 2K race. Awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m. for race winners and spirit awards, including best-dressed drummer, best-decorated tent and highest-pledge earner. Not racing? There’s beer and a food court, live music, fun merchandise and souvenirs. “Dragonlings” can enjoy all the free activities in the children’s tent. There is still time to form a team (16 to 20 paddlers plus a drummer). Go to minocquadragonboat.com for more details.
NORTHWOODS Region
Festival headquarters will be at Torpy Park, where the 17 teams (as of mid-July) will filter in and out as their allotted times are called. First, though, is the 8:30 a.m. “Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony” that is conducted to “cleanse the area of competition, to bless the competitors and their boats, and to charge the boats
and their crews with the Spirit of the Dragon and the Goddess of the Sea.”
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