TO coincide with the Chinese New Year the Rotary Clubs of Northampton unveiled this year’s Dragon Boat Festival.
The Rotary Dragon Boat Festival is returning to Northampton’s Midsummer Meadow after four years at Billing Aquadrome.
This will be the sixteenth annual dragon boat race in the Northampton area, organised and run by the four Northampton Rotary Clubs.
The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 July, with up to 39 crews racing on the River Nene.
This is possibly the foremost fundraising event in the Northampton community calendar. Over the years it has raised many thousands of pounds for local charities.
This year a number of changes have been introduced.
All paying teams entering the event will be able to nominate a local charity of their choice to receive a £200 donation from the four Rotary Clubs of Northampton.
The teams will also be able to use the event to publicise their chosen charities and to raise additional funds.
The event is open to all-comers including local businesses, sports clubs, schools, colleges, universities and privately entered teams.
The festival will include entertainment for all the family such as rides, stalls, food and drink. Entry to the festival is free of charge. Car parking will be available at a nominal fee.
All the profit from this event will go to Rotary supported projects locally, nationally and internationally.
Event Chairman, Paul Simpson said: “We are delighted to bring the event back into the town. The event has retained its popularity with the competing teams and is a great fun day out for all the family. In the past it has attracted over 2,000 visitors.
For more information on how you can take part e-mail
or visit the website www.rotarydragons.org.uk