Bradenton Dragon Boat Festival

Description

On April 9^th the third annual Bradenton Dragon Boat Festival will take place on the Riverwalk.  This venue is considered one of Florida’s best water front venues and offers a multitude of activities from Farmers’ Markets to volleyball, along with historic parks, playgrounds and fishing docks.  It’s a great place for the whole family to spend the day, whether you are paddling in the event or watching the competition.
 
Dragon boat racing is Florida’s fastest growing water sport and has found itself a home in more than a dozen communities in the state in the past decade.  Each team accommodates 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 steers-person.  The drummer sits in the bow (front) of the boat and beats a drum to keep the 20 paddlers in synch with one another.  The steers-person stands in the stern (back) and directs the boat with a 10-foot oar that acts as a rudder.  Often dubbed as a “canoe on steroids”, dragon boats are 43’ in length and don a traditional dragon head and tail.  This ancient Chinese sport has become one of fierce competition throughout the world, and is growing rapidly in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.
 
Teams for the Bradenton Dragon Boat Festival can be formed from a corporate group, bringing employees together for a day of fun competition and team building.  Other teams can come from churches, civic and community organizations, families and friends.  The event is open to participants of all ages (minimum of age 12), sizes and abilities.  Teams that are brand new to the sport are given the opportunity to practice the week prior to the event, before race day. 
 
The Bradenton Dragon Boat Festival at The Riverwalk will bring together new teams and the already established community of dragon boaters in and around Tampa, Punta Gorda and throughout Central Florida for a fun day on a great race course!  Racing will take place between 9 am and 3 pm.
 
Pan Am Dragon Boat, the event organizer, has registration fees posted on their website. Corporate team entries are $1200, Non-profit organizations can enter a team for $600 with 501(c)3 status. Entry is as low as $23 per person. All the equipment is provided for the teams, as well as 2 practices prior to race day. 
 
Teams interested in entering the races can find more information online at www.panamdragonboat.com or by contacting Pan Am Dragon Boat at 813-569-1030.