Nearly 120 teams will compete this weekend in the 23rd annual Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival on Oakland’s Lake Merritt, organizers said.
The festival is the largest competitive dragon boat festival in the United States. Teams are coming from around the world, with organizers this year welcoming Kiel, Germany—San Francisco’s newest sister city—to the competition.
Organizers said the festival starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. Racing starts at 8 a.m.
The festival features colorful 40-foot boats racing to the beat of drums.
By Keith Burbank
