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General Information
According to legend, dragon boat racing originated in China more than 2,300 years ago when the popular patriot and poet, Qu Yuan, felt disenfranchised by a corrupt government and drowned himself in the Mei Lo River. Upon learning of his death, people raced to the river in fishing boats and beat the water with their paddles to keep fish from Qu Yuan’s body and ward off evil spirits. According to one theory surrounding this sport, the dragon is said to be the most venerated of the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes control over the water. The popularity of dragon boat racing has exploded in North America and across the world with an estimated 50 million participants in 67 countries. There are about 175,000 participants in the U.S. and 150-plus recreational dragon boat clubs that practice regularly and compete in festivals and championships across the country and beyond. There are more than 100 dragon boat festivals in the U.S.
FAQsWhat is Dragons on the Lake? Dragon boat racing provides you and your team members with a unique team-building experience. Teams are comprised of 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and a boatload of fun! The boats are 46-feet long and will go as fast as you can paddle, so get your team together and make sure you don't miss out on the fun!
When is the festival? Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Rocky Gap State Park, Flintstone, MD. Festival activities begin at 9:00 am What happens at the 3nd Annual Dragons on the Lake Festival? It’s a full day of FUN!! Invite your fans to come watch you and other paddlers give it their all to get to the finish line as quickly as possible. Festivities will start at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Our all day festival will allow each team 2 – 4 races with plenty of spectator and festival action with live music and a diverse selection of food and beverages. Where do the proceeds go? The funds support the work of the Cumberland YMCA and stay in our community. Every day, in Cumberland the Y supports kids, adults, seniors and families with programs that protect, teach, connect, heal, nourish and encourage. Everything the Y does helps empower our community and the “us” who live in them to thrive. The Cumberland YMCA is a 501c3 non-profit. Donations are fully tax deductible. Every dollar raised goes directly to making our community's tomorrows better today, so dive in and join us on September 25, 2021. Corporate Sponsorship event opportunities are available. Please contact the Y at 301-777-9622. Donations and Registration Paddlers competing in the race are asked to raise donations in support of our community organization. Each paddler can help achieve this goal by asking friends and family for small (or large) donations, which can add up quickly.
Registration is $1,300 per team and can be paid for by a team sponsor or by individual contributions. We encourage all teams to set their team goal of raising $2,000. The team that raises the most money will receive the Top Fundraising Team Award and will also have the opportunity to select their team tent location first at the following year’s event. Teams raising donations of $2,000 per team will receive an event t-shirt. Please complete a Team Registration form and contact Julie O’Neal at 301-777-9622 ext. 207 or julie@cumberlandymca.org to begin your process as the Team Captain. A $200 non-refundable reservation fee is required to reserve your dragon boat. Team Captains are responsible for collecting and turning in all donations. Checks should be made payable to the Cumberland YMCA. The total registration fee must be paid in full by September 15, 2021. Check your inbox for team captain e-mail updates from dragonboats@cumberlandymca.org, particularly as race day nears. Race Regulations
The officials follow US Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) race rules. Please refer to http://www.usdbf.com/ for the full list of rules. The bottom line is good sportsmanship and safety.
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