SOLOMONS, Md. — Imagine participating in a contest of willpower with 16 of your friends and coworkers. In order to participate, each team must crawl into a narrow canoe of a boat decorated with a brightly painted dragon, and paddle to the beat of a drum. It’s the stuff of legends.
The Solomons Island Dragon Boat Festival, hosted by Southern Maryland Community Resources (SMCR) and 22Dragons, was the first fundraiser of its kind in Solomons. The event was hosted Aug. 26 and 27.
Awards for the top three teams included the fastest times, the team with most funds raised, the individual paddler with most funds raised, favorite team costumes, the best dressed drummer, the best team tent decorations and other categories.
Video credit to Faith, Deafness and Disabilities: Archdiocese of Washington Facebook page
Flying Water Dragon, clocking in at 1 minute and 2 second was the quickest to reach the finish line. Dragon Breath came in two seconds afterwards.
The following teams participated in the festival: Water Warriors, Dream Queen Association, St. Aloysius Church Youth Ministry, On a Wing and a Prayer, Kingfishers, Hunger Dragons, Good Hands, Personalized Therapy Pirates, GPT Mighty Ducks, Pirates of the Patuxent, Patuxent Presbyterian, Primary Paddlers, Wall Street Stick Boaters, Patuxent Dental, Flying Water Dragon, Dragon Breath, Floor Systems, and Dragon Flies. See the final results here.
“22 Dragons” provided the Dragon boats, other event gear and staff. Funds collected during the event help SMCR achieve their mission of creating opportunities for people with developmental differences in Southern Maryland. Goals for the event include the ability to become one of the most actively attended events in the Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties and Washington DC areas and to grow the festival each year, said event organizers.
Opening ceremonies, involving painting the dragon heads, were hosted at historic Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Solomons Aug. 26.
The traditional Dotting of the Eye opening ceremony awakens the spirit of the dragons by painting their pupils and tongues so the dragon heads can see and breathe. It wakes them up from their last event, said Phillip, one of the event coordinators.
“These boats and dragon heads travel all over the U.S. We start in the spring in Louisiana, all the way up to Vermont, and come back south again,” said Phillip.
A Blessing of the Boats ceremony took place immediately following the opening ceremony. The Papal Fiat was also on display at the church on Friday.
The Parade of Teams took place at the end of Saturday before the awards ceremony, and event-goers were encouraged to stay for the event of the festival to check out the race teams and their drummers in their costumes including an entire team decked out in pirate gear.
A dance group from St. Mary’s Ryken High School also performed, waving long red ribbons as they moved gracefully. See the video on the SMCR Facebook page.
A wide variety of vendors was available in the Vendor’s Village on the front lawn of the church, where event-goers could purchase things such as festival tee shirts, prints, as well as support the Annapolis Dragonboat Club.
A kids’ area, called The Dragonette Nest, was a location designed for families to take a short break from the heat and crowds.
The “Dragon Fruit” adult cocktail was featured at the Island Hideaway, and proceeds from the sales benefited SMCR.
Sponsors for the event include: Bunky’s Charter Boats, Holiday Inn Solomons, Patuxent Dental, Personalized Therapy LLC., Floor Systems Inc., Patuxent Presbyterian Church, Barefoot Graphics, PRMI, Stoney’s Kingfishers Seafood House, Avian, BlueShift Marketing, Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Gateau Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, The Medically Oriented Gym (M.O.G.), Boomerang’s Original Ribs, Magic Tunnel Car Wash, Coca Cola, Skip and Ellen Zahniser, Island Hideaway, Bowhead, Continental Services Heating and Air, Port of Call, and The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dock Bar.
For more information about the festival, or to check out information for the 2017 event, check out their website and Facebook page.
Contact Jacqui Atkielski at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.
