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Dragon boats compete at Festival of the Fox

Saturday provided a perfect summer setting for some lively water competition during the Festival of the Fox in St. Charles.

Dragon boat races were the highlight of the festival, with 23 teams competing on the Fox River for awards.

"These are actual Chinese dragon boats that seat 18 paddlers," said 5th Ward Councilman Ed Bessner, who is also Pride of the Fox board president. "There's a drummer who is there to keep all the paddlers in sync while they're rowing, and the sport side of it is paddling at the same pace, and that's how you maintain a better speed."

Competition will continue Sunday as teams competing in divisions - Komodo or Lizard - vie for first, second and third place. A Spirit Award also is presented to a team.

In addition to the dragon boat races, Festival of the Fox features two music stages, a water ski show, family movie night, and activities taking at Lincoln, Pottawatomie, and Baker Memorial parks.

John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comMegan Mirkovich reaches for the flag at the finish line of a Dragon Boat Race on the Fox River at Pottawatomie Park during the Festival of the Fox in St. Charles on Saturday. She was the "catcher" for the Cross Fit Enclave team of East Dundee.
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