THE DRAGON RETURNS TO NEW GLASGOW’S EAST RIVER.
Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival, Race on the River, 2003!


NEW GLASGOW – Mark the weekend of July 25th and 26th (Friday and Saturday) on your calendar for the 2nd Annual Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival, Race on the River 2003! Friday evening is the opening ceremony with the “traditional dotting of the dragon eye” by Honorary Chair Ann MacLean, New Glasgow Mayor. Following will be musical entertainment from local musician John “Spyder” MacDonald, and The Barbeque Kings of Halifax’s CBC.

Commencing Saturday morning one thousand participants representing various corporate and community organizations will meet to enjoy a fun-spirited competition on New Glasgow’s East River. Each Race covers a distance of 200 meters, but the emphasis is purely on having fun, as indicated by Larry MacDonald, Team Captain of A.W. Leil’s, “We had a wonderful time last year, and we’re looking forward to not only seeing all the other teams again this year but beating them too!”

New to the festival line-up is a youth race on Friday evening. “It’s an exciting Festival with activities for all members of the family. A must for anyone interested in watching dragon boat racing on the river,” comments Roger Swarbrick, Chairperson for the 2003 Festival. The river provides optimal viewing of the races for spectators wishing to cheer their favorite team, or simply to enjoy the many concessions.

This year, the pledge program is in aid of three charities: Women Alike Breast Cancer Support Group—the Festival’s primary benefactor; secondary benefactors are the N.S. Special Olympics and the Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund. Last year over 30 teams participated and the event contributed just under $80,000 toward these charities. The efforts of last year’s event earned the organizing committee of the Festival two awards: the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce Alex MacKay Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award, and the Pictou County Tourist Association Rising Star Award.


Submitted by:
Media Contact:
Shawna Coleman
Chairperson Communications/Sponsorship
Race on the River
www.raceontheriver.com
(902) 396-3054(h)

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