Right Around the River Blog
Dragon Boat Festival at Rocketts Landing This Weekend
Post Date: 10-03-2012
Our fall event season is off to a great start here at Rocketts Landing, and this weekend, we welcome the International Dragon Boat Festival! In its third year at our community, the festival brings China to the banks of the James River with dragon boat races, cultural performances, ethnic cuisine and more. And with our own Rocketts Landing dragon boat team in the competitive mix, Saturday can't arrive soon enough!
Sponsored by Sports Backers, 20 dragon boat teams are registered to race up the James with 20 paddlers, one drummer and one steersperson per boat. Guided by their drummer's rhythm, the teams must row their 40-foot canoe -- sporting decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails -- 500 meters upriver. The most successful teams will paddle in time to their drummer, because synchronization over individualization is key to winning a dragon boat race. For our own dragon boat team captain (and Rocketts Landing Community Manager) Blakeley Newbill, this teamwork is exactly the reason participating is so much fun.
"Healthy competition is really nice," Blakeley explains. “And with dragon boat racing, it’s so great to work with a team. In a lot of sports, one person is an all star. In dragon boats, there’s no way to do that. Everyone gets equal credit.”
The event’s new fall date is also a great asset to the race this year, as last year’s race in July’s triple-digit weather definitely made early exhaustion an unwanted friend. Since the day involves many different heats — three of which our Rocketts team is competing in (which is comprised of residents, Rocketts Landing employees and employees of Rocketts Landing businesses) — greater stamina can definitely make for some strong competition.
In addition to events on the water, events on land will also take place throughout the festival. Authentic Chinese entertainment is in store, provided by the Organizations of Chinese Americans – Central Virginia Chapter (OCA-CVC). We’ll also have an awards ceremony recognizing top racers, including the Rocketts Landing–sponsored award, “Best Richmond Region Team.”
So, take advantage of this great fall weather and be sure to come out to Rocketts Landing and enjoy the International Dragon Boat Festival. As a Richmond.com “Richmond Outdoors: Best of 2011” top choice last year, we’re confident this is one event you and the family won’t want to miss!
- When: Saturday, October 6
- Where: Rocketts Landing along the James River banks
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Cost: Free and open to the public