FLORENCE– The dragon boats are coming back, and the event promises to be bigger than ever.
“With the success we experienced with the 2013 event, we felt it was vital to bring it back to meet the demand from those who participated this year as well as those who heard or read about it and expressed an interest in rowing a boat in 2014,” said Emily Rhodes, the coordinator for the Shoals Dragon Boat Festival.
The event will be Saturday, October 18, beginning at 9 a.m. in McFarland Park in Florence. Rhodes said a number of teams have already signed up to participate. The cost is $1,500 per team. Teams consist of 24 individuals total and include 20 rowers, a drummer, and three alternates. A coxswain or steersman is provided. To register, simply log on to shoalsdragonboatfestival.com for details as well as to see a brief video from this year’s event.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit, watch the video to learn more about dragon boat racing on the web site, and learn how the 
event can serve as a team-building exercise for a group of co-workers or as a fun way to spend a Saturday for a group of friends.
Teams have already begun to register, and Rhodes said she anticipates growing the number of boats in the race from 24 this year to more than 30 for the 2014 race.
Pre-registration is taking place until May 1 for a fee of $100. The fee will hold your team’s spot and can be paid to Kilby Laboratory School or via the PayPal link on the Shoals Dragon Boat Festival web site.
The event benefits Kilby Laboratory School in Florence.
