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Citrus County Dragon Boat Festival raises funds for schools; survivor teams honored
Summary
Speakers described the 10th annual Dragon Boat Festival in Citrus County as a fundraiser for the Citrus County School District, featuring 20 county schools competing for spirit and speed and visiting teams of breast cancer survivors who hold a flower ceremony in remembrance.
Commenter 1 (Commenter) said the 10th annual Dragon Boat Festival in Citrus County is a fundraiser for the Citrus County School District that brought 20 Citrus County schools together to compete for both spirit and racing prizes.
"So we are having our tenth annual Dragon Boat Festival. We've been named the beast of the Southeast by the state of Florida Dragon Boat Committee. So today is a super great day raising funds for the Citrus County School District. So we have 20 Citrus County Schools here today, all battling for 2 things. Who has the most spirit, win money back to their school, and who's the fastest on the water," Commenter 1 said.
Commenter 1 also noted visiting teams from across Florida include breast cancer survivors. "So we have several teams from across the state of Florida who are all breast cancer survivors," Commenter 1 said.
Commenter 2 (Commenter) described personal experience as a survivor and the festival's memorial practice. "I'm a 9 year survivor. I also love the sisterhood, but my big thing is I like the flower ceremony. We do it in remembrance of people who've lost, people that are still fighting, and those yet to be diagnosed," Commenter 2 said. She added that some teams travel internationally; she referenced Italy (2018) and New Zealand (2023).
Commenter 2 identified her team as Warriors and Water and mentioned planned travel. "In 2026, we're going to France in the Alps. Our team is called Warriors and Water," she said.
Speakers framed the festival as a local fundraising and community-building event, highlighting both school participation and survivor solidarity. Commenter 2 praised the county's community spirit: "Citrus County is the best county in the state I have. I live here, but I work in Tallahassee... There's no county quite like Citrus County that has a group of people that whenever there's a need, they band together to address that need. This is the most giving, loving, supportive community that you'll ever find."
