From the time the teams parade down Pershing Drive on Friday night, July 10, to the last championship race on Saturday evening, July 11, Racine's Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival is a unique celebration of competition, community service and fun.

Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Racine, this two-day event centers on the friendly - albeit sometimes fierce - competition among more than 40 teams of dragon boat paddlers, who put their all into each of the brief, but intense, races that take place on Lake Michigan just south of Downtown.

This year's festival will also include live music - provided by the bands Camio Camora and the Twang Dragons - and a parade led by Chinese lion dancers. Food and refreshments will be offered for sale by vendors including Asiana, Taste of Soul, Kewpee's, Sticky Rice, Wilbur's and the Groundskeeper, while spectators view the action from the bluffs along Main Street. And everyone involved can feel good about their part in the Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival, as this event serves as a fundraiser for Racine's three Rotary clubs, all of which are dedicated to providing support for youth in our community.

"Everybody loves it," said Chris Flynn, chairwoman of the 2009 Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival and a member of Rotary West. "It's about being outside, it's about family, it's about teamwork and it's interesting. It is so much fun."

At the heart of it all are the devoted dragon boat teams - each of which has its own personality. The following sampling of this year's participants and sponsors, is designed to help you pick your favorites. Cheering the teams on, after all, is half the fun. Complete bios of most of the teams are available online at: http://www.midwestdragonboatfestival.com

• AngelFish: Named after the school mascot, an angel, this St. Catherine's High School team is made up of students, parents, alumni, teachers and friends of SCHS. It must be a good mix, as they are two-time defending champions of the Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival.

• Arashi: This team's name is the Japanese word for storm. And this storm means business, having started its season practicing in a pool in January and moving into the boats in May, where they will continue to paddle through October. As members of the Racine Dragon Boat Club, they will also compete in Tampa, Lake Superior and Oshkosh in 2009.

• aROARa Team: This is year two of dragon boat competition for this team of Aurora Health Care employees and their family members. A few new members have climbed in the boat for this season.

• Bucky's Concrete Crew: Ever heard of a concrete canoe? This team has. They are associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Concrete Canoe team, which competes annually in an engineering contest (see http://www.engr.wisc.edu/studentorgs/canoe for more information). Folks associated with the UWteam make up Bucky's Concrete Crew, which will be part of the Dragon Boat festival for the first time.

• Carnauba Waxers: These S.C. Johnson employees will be competing in the races for the fourth time. They are sponsored by the Johnson Mutual Benefit Association and the team's name is a tribute to the Johnson family's wax-finding expedition.

• City Slickers: Police Chief Kurt Wahlen, Alderman Jeff Coe and tavern owner Joey LeGath are three members of this team of City of Racine employees, their families and patrons of LeGath's taverns. The veteran paddlers name Racine County's Flyin' Dragons as their rivals.

• Cooling Running Dragons: Formerly the Hot Dawgs, this Modine Manufacturing-sponsored team changed its name to reflect the company's engine cooling business. The Dawgs, by the way, were named after a type of commercial heater manufactured by Modine.

• Draggin' Dragons: This is a family-focused team, with non-paddling members doing their part by marching in the parade, providing child care for paddling parents and recording the event on video. They took first place in the Family & Friends category and 12th place overall last year and their goal this time is to make it into the top 10 overall.

• Draggin' You Down: Last year they paddled under the McLane Co. name. This year, these employees of McLane Foodservice (Sturtevant), changed their name to reflect their intent - to drag their competitors down!

• Dragon Brew: Making its debut this year, this team of MillerCoors employees - from senior executives to summer interns - hopes to make the Dragon Boat Festival one of the traditions of its Asian Employee Affinity Network, the team's sponsor.

• InSink or Swim AND Slippery When Wet: Both sponsored by In-Sink-Erator, these two teams are rivals within the same company. The factory team, Slippery When Wet, has one less year of experience competing than the office team, InSink or Swim. Each has beaten the other once.

• J.C. Jammers: J.C. Mufflers and Brakes sponsors this dragon boat, but it will be filled by friends and family members of the auto repair business, from all different backgrounds. This is their third year at the races.

• Johnson Bank Vikings: Camaraderie is the key to the longevity of this team, which has been a part of the Dragon Boat Festival since its beginning. It consists of employees, spouses and friends of Johnson Bank.

• Kenosha West Rowtarians: The Kenosha Rotary West sponsors this team to lend a helping hand to the Racine Rotary clubs, which are the force behind the Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival every year. Paddlers include everyone from massage therapists to firemen and they think of themselves as the "Happy Team."

• Pale Ale Paddlers: It's a pirate's life for this team, which is co-sponsored by the Belle City Homebrewers and Vitners and Seams Unlimited, a local costume maker. All other teams beware; they warn, "We take no prisoners."

• Pink Paddling Power: The only all-women team in the festival competition, these breast-cancer survivors range in age from 40s to 60s and a few of them are currently undergoing treatment. Their mission is not only survivorship, but to enhance friendships while paddling. The team is sponsored by Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints.

• Pirates of the Cari-bean Counters: Their name gives away their profession as accountants at Clifton Gunderson. Family members and friends of the firm are also on the team.

• Red Hot Rebels: Members of Horlick High School's student council are the base for this team. Their sponsor, Frank Sterbin, CPA, is the proud parent of Horlick grads.

• Scrubbing Bubbles Paddlers: If you've ever cleaned your bathroom with Scrubbing Bubbles, you know who sponsors this team: S.C. Johnson. The team represents Johnson's Business Process and Technology department.

• Smilemakers: Employees, family members and patients of Racine Dental Group make up this team whose goal is to "Have fun in the sun and paddle like crazy toward the finish line!"

• Team RFD: The Racine Fire Department loves "a little friendly competition" in "whatever Mother Nature decides to dish out throughout the day."

• UW-Parkside Paddlers: One of the original festival teams, this group consists of University of Wisconsin-Parkside employees, students, family and friends who have joined the effort just through word of mouth.

• Wellness Warriors: The fun and challenge of the race is what drives this team sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints.

• People Powered Propulsion: Sponsor Twin Disc designs and manufactures power transmission equipment, but its dragon boat team is strictly people-powered. Having been a part of the festival since 2004, this team has placed first in its class every year.

If You Go

WHAT: Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival

WHEN: The festival begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 10, with a parade of teams along Pershing Drive and live music at the festival grounds. Camio Camora performs at 6:30 and the Twang Dragons at 8 p.m. Dragon boat races run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11.

WHERE: Festival and races take place in Samuel Myers Park, at the lakefront end of 11th Street. Race viewing is best from Simonsen Park - along the bluffs on Main Street, between 14th and 16th streets.

COST: Admission to the festival and the races is free. Free parking is available along the lakefront and in Gateway Technical College's southern parking lot.

INFO: Go to http://www.midwestdragonboatfestival.com