ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. -- Families flocked to the Dan River to enjoy a summer day on the water with a long-honored tradition.
Saturday, many brought their boats out for the annual Dan River Boat Race. The event started in 1989, and now the community looks forward to the first weekend in August each year.
Alderman Micky Silvers explains, "Dixie Penn, at that time, was our recreation director and a handful of people said, 'let's have a boat race', started with about five or six people, and it's ballooned since then."
Dozens of people bring out their boats and sail down the river. A volunteer serves as timekeeper. Whoever gets down the river the fastest, takes home a first place prize. Dustin Sedlock and his family took on the river this year.
"Being out here in nature, it's God's planet, we love it being out here with the family," Sedlock says.
Organizers say they've seen a slight increase in participants this year due to coronavirus. The county's tradition gives residents something to do while they're homebound during the pandemic. The recreation department took precautions to keep participants safe.
"We're providing masks if need be. We're sanitizing vans. We're social distancing," Silvers says.
If boating isn't your speed, you can go tubing down the Dan River. MadTown Tubing is located nearby via the Lindsey Bridge Access. Tubing is $12 per person. For more information, click here.
IN THE COMMUNITY
A Summer Tradition Continues: 31st Annual Dan River Boat Race
PUBLISHED August 1, 2020 @2:39 PM