Annual Dragon Boat will be held in Lakeside this weekend

The fourth-annual Montana Dragon Boat Festival brings familiar fun, spirited competition and colorful pageantry to a new location on Flathead Lake: Volunteer Park in Lakeside.

The new location better accommodates growing crowds and takes advantage of favorable wave and wind conditions on the water. Volunteer Park, a Flathead County Park, offers 190 feet of Flathead Lake shoreline with spectacular views of the Mission and Flathead mountains. The festival grounds spreads along Lakeside Boulevard accommodating vendors, teams and additional activities, and several designated parking lots adjacent to the festival grounds offer walkable access to the event for paddlers and spectators. The shops, restaurants and other attractions in Lakeside will all be within walking distance— providing race attendees the opportunity to experience Lakeside. The race this year is the first time it’s been held in Lakeside. The previous three years were in Bigfork.

All day enjoy kid’s activities, food and craft vendors and spectacular views of the lake and mountains. The event kicks off with a captains briefing on Friday, September 11th at Volunteer Park. Races begin at 8:30am Saturday with excitement extending through the day. After the races conclude on Saturday head into Kalispell to The Flathead Lake Dragon Bash, a dinner and concert with music by Sho-down at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.montanadragonboat.com.

The action will resume Sunday at 9:00am with qualifying rounds and championship races. The day will conclude with an awards ceremony.