Pineville’s picturesque Lake Buhlow was the scene of intense nautical competition as a record 25 teams from area businesses, hospitals, colleges, high schools and churches spent on May 3 vying for bragging rights at the Annual Dragon Boat races sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. This popular event, first held in 2010, has rapidly become an area-wide favorite, growing each year.

Dragon Boat Races are a competition in which teams of paddlers, often in themed costumes, race their boats to the beat of a drummer. Each boat has a dragon head at the prow. On the morning of the race, each team paints the eyes of their boat’s dragon in order to awaken it.

The Dragon Boat Races are a true community effort. The Museum’s staff was assisted by a contingent of community volunteers, including a group of soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard’s 773 MP Battalion who assisted with traffic control as well as fielding a dragon boat racing team. This year also marked another first, as Alexandria Senior High fielded the competition’s first two high school teams with their Marine Corps JROTC and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Pineville Elementary School’s superb drumline returned this year for an encore performance, keeping the rowers entertained during lunch.

While the Dragon Boat Races are quite a bit of fun, the event has a serious purpose. It is the signature fundraiser for the Alexandria Museum of Art. This year’s race is expected to bring in over $70,000 to help fund the museum’s operations. The Alexandria Museum of Art is an integral part of Central Louisiana’s cultural and educational scene and one of the many things that make our city special.