Seventh Annual Dragon Boat Festival Returns July 24th
SALISBURY, NC (News Release) — The Seventh Annual Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival will be held on Sat., July 24, 9 a.m. β 4 p.m. at The Shrine Club on High Rock Lake (6480 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC).
The Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival has traditionally been the largest annual spectator event held on High Rock Lake, the second largest lake in North Carolina. The festival will showcase several food trucks and local breweries as well as family activities and outdoor recreation retailer, Backcountry and Beyond.Β Vendors will include Morgan Ridge Vineyards, Dynamite Dawgs, Cold Stone Creamery, Hot Dog Shack, Dolce Italian Ice, BBQ from Rowan County Sheriff, High Rock Lake Kettle Corn, Somβs Teriyaki Chicken and United Beverages. Also featured will be New Sarum Brewing Companyβs original Dragon Boat Rice Lager.
The 2021 Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival event chair, Daniel Matangira, has led the volunteer event committee over the past few months to make this yearβs return of the Dragon Boat Festival THE summer event not to miss. Recently, Daniel invited Country music singer/songwriter Sydney Lett to perform the National Anthem as well as a few of her own country singles, including βChasinβ Trainsβ during the lunch break.
βBringing in a rising Nashville star to our festival is an added bonus for our spectators. I have long been a country music fan and when I heard Sydneyβs voice, I knew she would be a good addition for the entertainment portion of the Dragon Boat Festival.β
Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and make it a fun lakeside party. However, no pets, coolers nor outside food will be allowed. Spectators attend free although there will be a $5 parking fee. All monies collected from parking will go to the Salisbury High School Boosters to pay for the Hornets 2-AA state football championship rings. βWe have a ton to be proud of these kids and winning the 1A/2A state swimming championship with Emily and Katie KnorrΒ during an unprecedented time, is definitely something that everyone in the Salisbury community should feel good about supporting,β shared Charlie Graeber, Salisbury High School Booster chair.
F&M Bank will provide trolley rides between the parking areas and the Shrine Club property. Boats are welcome to view from the main channel or dock behind the Shrine Club to enjoy the food and festivities.
ROWAN CHAMBER DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL FACTS:
SPONSORS: Hotwire Communications, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and Trinity Senior Services of Rowan. Additional event sponsors include Cheerwine, Duke Energy, F&M Bank, Food Lion, Rowan County Tourism Development Authority, The Salisbury Post; Cube Hydro Carolinas/Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, High Rock Lake Association, Livingstone College, Matangira Recycling/Cardinal Tire, Southern Power, Team Chevrolet, and Godleyβs Garden Center.
21 TEAMS ENTERED:
There are three levels of competition: Community/non-profit, Corporate and Club teams. Team names are clever and will be on full display (on their tee shirts) such as: Anchorβs Up, Anger Management, Blazing Paddlerβs Bull Ship, Charlotte Fury, Daimlerβs Revenge, F&M Strokes of Genius, Gator Bites, Healing Dragons of Charlotte, Power Paddlers, Fiber Dragons, Itβs Pool Time, Navigators, Trinity Oaks Dragon Slayers, Paddling with Pride, Rowβd Hard & Put Away Wet, Rowan County Oar-iginals, SRR WaveRunners, Steel Strong, VAEA Warriors, and Rowan Young Professionals, Valyrian Steele.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE OFFERINGS INCLUDE: BBQ by Rowan County Sheriffβs Dept., Cheerwine, Cold Stone Creamery, Dolce Italian Ice, Dynamite Dawgs, High Rock Kettle Corn, Morgan Ridge Rail Walk Brewery and Eatery, New Sarum Brewing Company, The Hot Dog Shack, Teriyaki Chicken, and United Beverage.
EXHIBITORS:
Backcountry and Beyond, High Rock Lake Association, Hotwire Communications, Novant Health/Healthy Rowan, AT&T, Communities In Schools, Families First, Kinetics by Windstream, Your Rowan, and Race to End Hep C.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Sydney Lett, country music singer/songwriter originally from Iowa who has chosen N.C. as her adopted home state will perform a few originals including βChasinβ Trainsβ released late last year.
SCHEDULE:
- 8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
- 9 a.m. Dragon Boat Heat Racing Starts; Food Trucks, Beer/Wine & Vendor booths open
- noon Lunch Break
- Β Entertainment with Drummer Parade; Heads/Tails Game & Novant Health Wellness Cup Award
- 1:00 p.m. Dragon Boat Racing Continues
- 2:30 p.m. Championship Races
- 3 p.m. Awards Presentation
ABOUT THE COMPETITION:
Dragon Boat racing is a 2,300-year-old tradition from Ancient China with 45β sleek boats donned with dragon heads, tails and scales that seat 20 paddlers each. Colorful drummers sit in the bow pounding the drum to the beat of the paddlersβ stroke, and a steersperson stands in the stern guiding the team down the water racecourse.
For more information please visit, www.rowanchamberdragonboat.org.
