Morning festivities start off with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast to support Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown Area and the traditional opening ceremony to “Wake the Dragon.” There will be local craft vendors, face painting, food from the Taco Hut Food Truck, Ace Kettle Corn, Yakisoba’s while the races are taking place.

Rubber ducks for the Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union’s Rubber Ducky Race Fundraiser will be sold in the morning until noon and dumped in the lake by 2 p.m. The day wraps up with an awards ceremony, presenting the winners with handmade medals made by the Resource Center Creative Art and Pickin’ Club!

The Chautauqua Lake Dragon Boat Festival is a family-friendly festival that promotes active, healthy lifestyles, team building and opportunities for the community to come together to raise awareness and money to benefit Chautauqua Lake and the community.

Dragon boat racing is team-driven as participants work in unison to propel a 42-foot-long canoe through a designated course. Of the 22 members comprising a team, 20 paddlers power the boat while a steersperson in the stern guides it. A drummer located in the bow motivates the paddlers and keeps them in sync.

Pictured is an aerial photo of dragon boat races on Chautauqua Lake.

“It just warms my heart to see how many people come out and enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival; it is such an incredibly unique event that we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of,” said Kelly Haaksma, CEO of the Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union. “So much work goes into making this event happen and I couldn’t be more thankful to the Dragon Boat Committee and the organizations they represent for all their effort and commitment, and our credit union team, members and the support of our community.”

For more information, visit us on facebook www.facebook.com/chqdragonrace.

A crew is pictured preparing to start a dragon boat race on Chautauqua Lake. Submitted photo