From Manitoba to Vancouver Island, around 1,500 athletes are at Skaha Lake this weekend for the 23rd annual Penticton Dragonboat Festival.
One of Penticton's most famed summertime events is back, as teams of all ages come together and vie for Dragonboat Festival gold until Sunday, Sept. 8.
"It feels like a family of 1,500 is here this year," said Thyra Carroll, race manager at the festival. "I love the general vibes, it's like a big reunion and it's just fantastic."
The event brought large crowds to Skaha Lake Park early on Saturday morning. A total of 64 teams, including some from Penticton, will keep the party going through until Sunday afternoon.
A major festival in Italy this week 鈥� the 14th Club Crew World Championships 鈥� has welcomed a number of Canadian athletes, taking them away from Penticton's annual event.
"We're still stoked to have 1,500 athletes," Carroll said. "It's definitely a great paddling community here, and it's also really nice to see everyone encourage each other from all different walks and places."
Races of up to 500 metres took place Saturday every 12 minutes. The finals is set for Sunday.
Among the teams to compete was Penticton's Survivorship, a group of local dragon boaters who have survived breast cancer.
Formed in 1999, the South Okanagan-based team will be among those featured on Sunday for the annual ceremony to raise awareness about breast cancer.
This year's festival precedes another major event for Penticton Paddle Sports this month.
The organizing group is gearing up to welcome athletes for the 2024 Canadian Outrigger Distance Championships, set for Sept. 28 and 29 on Okanagan Lake.
