Louisiana Dragon Boat Races return to Buhlow Lake Saturday
The dragons will awaken Saturday on Buhlow Lake in Pineville as 21 teams get ready to compete in the 11th annual Louisiana Dragon Boat Races.
The Louisiana Dragon Boat Races, a fundraiser for the Alexandria Museum of Art, is one of Central Louisiana's most popular events.
To prepare for race day, teams will practice this week in the evenings at assigned times. Each team will get one hour of practice so they can work with the helmsmen from the dragon boat company, 22 Dragons. Paddlers will learn the basics of paddling, racing and also receive instruction on safety. Paddles, life vests, boats, drums, and people to steer will be provided for practices and on race day. Races start at 8 a.m. on race day and go until the late afternoon.
Teams consist of 20 paddlers and a drummer. Each boat must have 8 females aboard. The drummer sits at the front keeping the rhythm for the paddlers. Alternate paddlers are allowed.
On Saturday, the race day will begin with a captains meeting at 8 a.m. followed by the opening ceremonies and drummers parade at 8:30 a.m. During the opening ceremonies, team members follow the tradition of painting the eyes on dragon heads, awakening them. The heads will then be placed on the bow of the boat. The Pineville Elementary School Drumline will perform at 12:30 p.m. Closing ceremonies will be at 3 p.m.
Teams will compete for trophies, medals, spirit awards and bragging rights.
Team members will be able to park outside the lake gates. Parking is first come, first served. Spectators can park under the Highway 165 overpass and walk to the lake. Spectators can also park at the downtown Alexandria parking garage behind the Ned Randolph River Front Center and take the Alex River Fete Trolley to Buhlow Lake. The trolley will run every 30 minutes.
Entry to Buhlow Lake area during the event and watching the races are free.
Introduced about 12 years ago, the races quickly became one of Central Louisiana's most popular events. Because of COVID-19, the races were canceled in 2020 and 2021 but returned in 2022.
In the past, races were in Alexandria on the Red River near the Alexandria Museum of Art before moving to Buhlow Lake for safety reasons.
"Dragon boat racing is a 2,000 year old Chinese tradition," said Barry Howard, operations manager for 22 Dragons USA which provides the boats, equipment and steerers for the event in a 2022 Town Talk article. "It's become one of the fastest growing water sports."
It was introduced in the United States in the 1980s and grew in popularity.
"Anybody can do it. From a 12-year-old to an 80-year-old," said Howard when asked why it was popular. "There are not a lot of restrictions."
Cancer survivors, blind people and paraplegics have all paddled in dragon boat races, he said.
"If you can take a paddle and stroke with it, you can do it," said Howard.
For more information, visit louisianadragonboatraces.com