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Get your paddles ready, dragon boat racers.

On Saturday, July 12, West Point Lake will once again host Harmony House’s annual dragon boat race.

The race is free for spectators and a fun day for all involved. Anyone who wants to watch the race can attend the event and enjoy activities at the tailgating areas.

Harmony House Director Michele Bedingfield said the race is their biggest fundraiser each year. The race typically raises about $40,000  to benefit the organization. Harmony House is a safe, confidential emergency shelter available for women and their children.

A total of 25 teams, made up of rowers of all ages and experience levels, will compete for bragging rights and this year’s crown. Ginger Zachry has chaired the event since it began nine years ago.

Bedingfield said LaGrange High School students painted paddles to serve as this year’s spirit awards at the dragon boat race. 

The paddles are the awards for the voting. We don’t charge for parking. We don’t charge for admission to the event. So an additional way that we can do fundraising is having spectators vote for their favorite tailgate area, tailgate drummer, team spirit and team name, ” Bedingfield said.

The prizes are awarded to the top vote-getters, with votes coming in as monetary donations to Harmony House at $1 a vote.

“That’s the way that we can get spectators and other people involved,” Bedingfield said. “Come out and vote, since we’re not charging for anything else, and support our vendors. We don’t charge the vendors to be there either. We just encourage them if they want to donate back to us, they can.”

Bedingfield said they have a couple of new teams this year. The 2025 teams include:

4Mike Patton Auto Family – Mike Paddlin’ Auto

4Kia Georgia – Kia Georgia Rock ‘n’ Rowers

4LaGrange Grocery Company – HOLD MY BEER!

4Hyundai MOBIS – Boombox Blasters!

4 Duracell – Power Boost

4 The Center for Mindful Exploration – The Mindful Dragons

4Synovus – Fast and Fiduciary

4Creative Legacy Group – D.O.P.E. Department of Paddling Efficiency

4Lake Acworth Dragons

4First Baptist Church on the Square – FBC Godspeed

4LaGrange Police Department – In HOT Pursuit

4Bailey Metal Supply – Steel Sailors

4Interface – Interface Magic Carpet Ride

4Kimble’s Corrections – Commissary Cruisers

4LaGrange Academy – Water Warriors

4Great Wolf Lodge – The Wolf Pack

4LaGrange Fire Department – Hose Dragons

4La Quinta Inn & Suites and Hacienda Bar & Grill – VIATOR VORTEX

4Woodmen Broad Street C of C – Lumberjacks

4Pediatric Associates of LaGrange, P.C. – Paddle PALs

4Jackson Services – The Chillbillies

4Team RWB

4Charlotte Surge

4Rosemont Baptist Church – Row by Faith and Not by Sight

4CrossFit Higher Ground – Higher Ground SurviveOars