Dragon Boat Festival postponed until the fall

The annual Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival has been postponed until the fall.

Wallaceburg resident Brian Armitage, the event organizer, confirmed the postponement in an email sent to the participants.

“Trust everyone is staying healthy and safe during this difficult time,” Armitage said.

“Due to the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 the Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival has postponed this event into the fall season on October 3, 2020.”

Armitage added: “You, family and friends are first and foremost of importance of safety. Practicing social distancing is priority.”

The event had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 6 in downtown Wallaceburg.

It was felt by the Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival committee, sponsors and volunteers that pushing the festival into the fall season was the best scenario “allowing for everyone to recover including the economic engines to get back up to speed.

“Ironically, in the year 2001, the first scheduled Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival was on the same weekend in October. Cancelled out of respect to all those who lost their lives in 9/11. Back to our roots,” Armitage said.

Teams that have already registered with a deposit or payment in full will be contacted in the next few days to make arrangements, Armitage added.

“For those not familiar with Wallaceburg at this time of the year the weather pattern has always been excellent and your promised some of the most beautiful fall colours while gracing your paddles down the historic Sydenham River,” he said.

“The June festival always kicked-off the start of the upcoming summer months. This year on Oct. 3… let’s celebrate. Stay safe everyone, you know what to do. See everyone in the fall.”

Follow the festival page on Facebook for more updates, here.

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