Paddlefest Downtown

  Main Street Gainesville is providing a series of special events to be held downtown September 10^th -13th during the Lanier Canoe 2003 World Championships.

Participants will receive a business directory and map listing all retail and restaurant businesses in downtown Gainesville .  Included will be a "Take a Bite Out of Downtown" card providing a 20% discount during September at all participating downtown restaurants.  Some will feature live entertainment.  Many retailers will provide in-store promotions during these four days that will be interesting to visitors as well as locals.

• The Garden Club Council will have displays in downtown store windows featuring entries in a juried flower show.

• On Friday, from 5 - 7 PM live entertainment will be provided in front of the Main Street Market featuring Jayne Olderman's new CD "The Journey".  Find out more at www.redwarrior.com.  

• Horse and carriage rides will be available as well as a "Taste and Tour" of downtown Gainesville featuring food and entertainment. 

For more information on Downtown activities, go to www.downtowngainesville.com.

 Dragon Boat Races

 The modern day Dragon Boat Race dates back almost 2,000 years.  It is based on the Chinese re-enactment of the race to save Qu Yuan, a 4^th century statesmen poet and advisor to the head of state. After he threw himself into the river the local fisherman wildly beat their drums and splashed water with their paddles in an attempt to keep the water dragons and fish from eating his body.

 On September 11 – 14, during the lunch intermission, teams of up to 20 participants will compete in Dragon Boats furnished by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office.

The Hong Kong dragon boat is a sleek, 39 foot, 3,000 pound racer with a dragon’s head at the prow and a tail at the stern.  A crew of 20, including a steerperson and a drummer, maneuver the boat along a 500-meter course.  The race is all about having fun during the World Championships. Novice paddlers will have their chance to compete on the same racecourse as the Olympic bound athletes.

Welcome the World Challenge

Sunday, September 7 - Registration begins at 12:00 noon - Race begins at 2:00 PM

A race and celebration to welcome the athletes to Gainesville .  The flatwater canoe/Kayak race is open to all paddlers, and will be followed by a fun beach-side party with live music and the opportunity to lend support to the world-class paddlers before the World Championships. For more information, contact  GGaines105@aol.com or call (770) 503-8537.