Staff report

SALISBURY — The Second Annual Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Shrine Club on High Rock Lake, 6480 Long Ferry Road.

Title sponsors are Trinity Oaks/Lutheran Services Carolinas and Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. Other sponsors include the Salisbury Post, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo Bank, High Rock Lake Association, Brent Parks CPA and Johnson Concrete.

“The Rowan Chamber is excited to bring this fun event back to our community for the second year,” said Ann Pressly (Trinity Oaks), chair of the Dragon Boat Festival Committee. “It highlights our quality of life with abundant water resources, friendly people and unique team building opportunities for businesses.”

The first year, 16 teams competed. This year, 26 teams are registered and organizers anticipate a crowd of over 1,500 attendees. The event is free to attend; however, no coolers or pets will be allowed. There will be Dragon Boat races, food vendors, Cheerwine and United Beverages of NC (Miller Beer) products available for sale.

The official Dragon Boat Festival T-shirts also will be available this year. Please bring cash for the food, T-shirts and refreshment vendors.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and make it a fun lake party. The Kiwanis Club will be helping with parking, which is free and available in adjacent lots to the Shrine Club. The Salisbury/Rowan County Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide trolley rides to and from the parking areas. Look for the signs as you come down Long Ferry Road.

This year will also feature a “Drummer Parade” during the noon lunch break in racing. All the team drummers will compete to see who can raise the most money for the Chamber’s 50/50 drawing. Awards will be presented to the top drummers. The Dragon Boat Festival is a fundraiser for the Rowan Chamber’s small business programs and services.