Dragon Boat Racers Arrive For Opening Ceremony

Races Begin Saturday At 8 A.M.

Sorry, this video is no longer available

Paddles up! It’s time for the 14th Annual Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival on Barker’s Island.

The races will kick off at 8 a.m. Saturday and attract thousands of fans of all ages – while raising money for the Duluth and Superior Rotary Clubs.

Roughly 1,500 paddlers and nearly 100 teams are will take over Barker’s Island Marina for fierce competitions in those 40-foot long ancient Chinese boats.

“Every ten minutes there will be a four-boat heat going off,” said Kurt Soderberg, organizer of the Dragon Boat Festival.

And while the nerves are shaking for some and the adrenaline is about the burst for many, the racers know it’s all about raising thousands of dollars for Rotary and the Essentia Health Foundation.

“It’s good to see that everybody in superior and Duluth and Canada gets teams put together for a good cause and raise money,” said Brittany Sands, a former race participant.

It’s the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the Midwest that’s show no signs of letting up.

“You’ll see a tremendous amount of camaraderie here between teams — and great competition,” said Linda Venus, a racer.