DRUMS AND DRAGONS THIS SUNDAY

The Dragon Boat Festival roars back to Peterborough this Sunday June 19!

Over 400 people will be taking to the water at the 13^th spectacular Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival this Sunday 1June 19. Twenty crews will race the forty foot brightly painted Chinese dragon boats three at a time over the 200m course on the River Nene beside the Key Theatre in the city centre, watched by several thousand spectators.

Racing will take place between 11am and 4pm and at the end of the afternoon, trophies will be presented to the winning crew, the second and third placed crews, the team that raises the most money for charity, the top mixed crew and the ‘best dressed’ crew. The Festival’s nominated charity, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), is one of many good causes set to benefit from sponsorship raised by the crews and city centre floating restaurant EAST has donated a special Pan-Asian Sunday buffet for the crew that raises the most.

Carol Lester of Festival organisers, Gable Events told ESP – “We’re proud to be celebrating the 13^th year of the Dragon Boat Festival and looking forward to another fantastic day, jam-packed with racing and entertainment. Many of the entrants this year are new with teams as diverse as the presenters from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Rapidrop Global, British Sugar, Premier Foods, Veterinary Business Development, the City and Regional Colleges, Mick George and Elliott Group who’ve entered three teams made up of staff from all over the country including their HQ in Peterborough!

“Our Festival supporters, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, The Evening Telegraph, Peterborough City Council and EAST have been great again this year and we’re sure that teams and Festival visitors alike will have a great day.”

As well as races every 10 minutes throughout the day, there’ll be a whole host of family activities on the bank to keep teams and spectators entertained including a large funfair, fun inflatables, face painting, Chinese lion dancing and street entertainment from Dan the Hat. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices will also have an information point where you can learn more about what this fantastic charity does and you can keep refreshed at the beer tent and take advantage of a huge variety of tasty food stalls including Grasmere Farm BBQ, Chinese, pizzas, fish and chips, speciality coffees and ice creams.

Entrance to the Festival is free to spectators and parking is available at the Key Theatre, Bishop’s Road and Pleasure Fair Meadow car parks (standard ‘pay and display’ City Council parking charges apply).