ROWAN COUNTY — The Rowan Chamber of Commerce has announced that 31 teams have registered for the 10th Annual Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s festival promises to be the biggest and most exciting yet, showcasing the spirit and community engagement of Rowan County and beyond. Top sponsors for this year’s event include Novant Health, Trinity Oaks and Rowan Tourism Development Authority.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rowan Shrine Club at High Rock Lake, located at 6480 Long Ferry Road in Salisbury. The festival features the highly anticipated dragon boat races, food from local food trucks, diverse vendors and family-friendly fun. 

The Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival has undeniably grown in the last 10 years, beginning the first year with 16 teams. Now, the festival has sold-out of team spots with 31 groups competing. Here are the teams set to compete:

• “Anchors Up” — Anchor Downs Neighborhood Association
• “Charlotte Fury” — Charlotte Dragon Boat Association
• “Charlotte Surge” — Charlotte Dragon Boat Association
• “Dragon Fish” —The Fish Bowl
• “Filthy Oars” — The White Rabbit 
• “Freightliner Fury” — Daimler Trucks North America
• “Gator Bites” — Rhema Transportation / Cardinal Tire
• “Healing Dragons Charlotte” — Club team
• “Healing Dragons of Lake James” — Club team
• “Lion’s Pride” — Food Lion, LLC
• “Lion’s Roar” — Food Lion, LLC
• “Miami Dragon Slayers” — Miami Dragon Boat Club
• “Navigators” — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
• “Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine” — Community team
• “Novant Health ROW’an Knights” — Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
• “Organized Chaos Charlotte” — Club team
• “Paddle with Pride” — Salisbury Pride
• “Page’s Dragon Tails” — Community team
• “Power Paddlers” — Power Curbers Companies, LLC
• “RDBC Relentless” — Raleigh Dragon Boat Club
• “RoCo Young Professionals The Average Pros” by Powles Staton Funeral Home
• “RoCo Young Professionals The Row Pros” by Johnson Concrete
• “Rowan Oar-Iginals” — Rowan County
• “Shore Thing” — State Employees Credit Union GQ
• “Spencer Steelfangs” — Town of Spencer
• “Strokes of Genius” — F&M Bank
• “Team Catawba College” — Catawba College
• “The Griffinators” — New Sarum Brewing Company
• “Trinity Oaks Dragon Slayers” — Trinity Oaks
• “VAEA Thunder” — VA Employees Association
• “Western Star Dragons” — Daimler Trucks North America

“We are thrilled to see such a diverse and enthusiastic group of teams participating in this year’s festival,” said Daniel Matangira, Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat chair. “This event not only highlights the competitive spirit of our community but also brings people together for a day of fun.”

Seven teams have been a part of the festival since it began 10 years ago. These teams are:

• Anchors Up — Anchor Downs Neighborhood Association 
• Navigators — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 
• Novant Health ROW’an Knights — Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
• Power Paddlers — Power Curbers Companies, LLC 
• Rowan Oar-Iginals — Rowan County Government 
• Strokes of Genius — F & M Bank 
• Trinity Oaks Dragon Slayers — Trinity Oaks / Lutheran Services Carolinas 

The Rowan Chamber Dragon Boat Festival is free to attend, and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. No pets, coolers or outside food are permitted. Parking is $5 per car and benefits the East Rowan football team. Boats are welcome to view from the main channel or can dock behind the Shrine Club to enjoy the food and festivities.

The Rowan Chamber invites everyone to join in the festivities and cheer on their favorite teams. For more information about the event, go to rowanchamberdragonboat.com.