The Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Dragon Boat Race and Festival is a premier sporting event each year, drawing participants and attendees from throughout the region for a day of exciting, friendly competition in an atmosphere fueled with community spirit.
Spectators gather on the Point Mallard Aquatic Center Beach to cheer on their favorite teams, who board 46-feet-long traditional Hong Kong-style dragon boats for a race along the Tennessee River. Each team consists of 22 people, with a drummer at the front, 20 seated rowers, and a steerer in the back. Dragon boat racing originated more than 2,300 years ago and creates a spectacle like no other with colorful boats, drumming rhythms, and unique paddling stroke. For more information about dragon boat racing, visit www.racedragonboats.com.