KNOXVILLE - The KARM Dragon Boat Festival is expected to attract thousands to the Cove at Concord Park again this year for high intensity boat races, music, children’s activities and fantastic food.

The KARM Dragon Boat Festival is Saturday, June 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 40 corporate and community teams are expected to compete for a variety of awards, including fastest race times, highest fundraisers, best team name, best team spirit, best drummer costume, and more.

For the first 20 teams to sign up, the early registration includes a premier waterfront team tent location for the day of the event. Early registration ends March 28th. Teams can register online at www.karm.org/dragonboats/ or by calling 865-633-7623. KARM Director of Events Lila Wilson has recently joined the organization, and brings with her nearly 20 years of large outdoor special event planning, especially during her 12 year tenure at Director of Special Events for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. Wilson said, “I am so delighted to be serving at KARM. This event, as the oldest and largest dragon boat race in our area, is truly “the race with a mission,” and is so vital to KARM’s fundraising efforts each year. We need your support, and look forward to a fantastic day on the water.”

Last year at the KARM Dragon Boat Festival, 45 teams raced 41-foot Hong Kong style boats across the water, raising more than $200,000 to support the programs and services Knox Area Rescue Ministries provides those in need in our community. This year’s goal is $300,000.

Over 4,000 people attended in 2014. The festival not only helps a worthy cause, it is also an opportunity to bring corporate, church, civic or community teams together for an action-packed day on and off the water.

Event sponsors include WIVK-FM, Newstalk 98.7, Sports Radio, WBIR-TV, Lamar Outdoor, the Knoxville News Sentinel, U.S. Foods, Pilot/Flying J, Rick Cox Construction, Publix Charities, the First Tennessee Foundation, Strata-G, and Regions Bank.