The Northwestern State University Alumni Association will host Natchitoches’ third annual Dragon Boat Races Saturday, March 3 at the newly-renovated downtown riverbank.
The best part is that the cost for team entries has been lowered for this year’s races. The cost for each team to enter is $1,200.
Get ready to compete because the City’s team “Natchitoches Nightmare” is looking to win again. They’ve repeated their victory and won the race the last two years. For the 2018 races, they want to make it a three-peat!
“When Mayor Lee Posey first heard NSU was bringing the Dragon Boat Races to Natchitoches, he wanted to support it and the college,” said City employee Hannah Wenninger. “Competing in the races has gotten City employees involved in something that’s really fun.”
The City has been having so much fun that Posey would like to issue a challenge to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Department to enter a team this year for a little friendly competition. He thinks adding more teams is sure to bring more competition and more spectators to such a great community event.
The City team consists of fire and police department members and some ladies from various offices. It always boasts a diverse age range with rowers from 20-65 years old.
This year almost every member of “Natchitoches Nightmare is a returning vet.
“Our team is competitive and we’re not going to go down easy,” said Wenninger, who paddled with her team the first year and served as the drummer last year. She will do so again this year.
“The drummer position is more fun,” she said. “But it’s hard too. You’re the leader of the team. You need to project your voice and keep the rhythm. It takes a lot of focus and communication.”
Dragon Boat teams consist of 20 paddlers (a minimum of eight must be female) and one drummer. The helmsman will be provided. There will be a practice session for each team during the week preceding the event.
Races will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day with vendors, music and activities for families and spectators. Spectator admission is free.
Sponsorships, which include a team entry, are $2,500. The cost for a vendor is $100.
