OAK RIDGE, TN - Emory Valley Center will have its Dragon Boat Race, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Melton Lake in Oak Ridge. This exciting new community event will bring together corporate teams, community organizations, and supporters for a day of friendly competition on the water while raising funds to support the mission of Emory Valley Center.

Participants will race in authentic, 20-foot-long Asian-style dragon boats, creating a thrilling and visually exciting experience for both paddlers and spectators. Each team will consist of 10 paddlers and 1 drummer, while a professionally trained steersperson provided by the event coordinators will guide the boat during the race.

Open to participants of all skill levels, dragon boat racing emphasizes teamwork, rhythm, and synchronicity rather than brute strength, making it an ideal team-building activity for businesses, community groups, and organizations.

To prepare teams for race day, each group will participate in an on-water practice session with a trained coach during the week leading up to the event. On race day, teams are guaranteed at least one heat as they paddle toward victory in this fast-paced and exciting competition.

Proceeds from the Dragon Boat Race will support Emory Valley Center’s programs and services for children, adults, and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the region.

Community members are encouraged to come out and support the teams, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and cheer on the racers at Melton Lake.

For more information about forming a team, sponsorship opportunities, or event details, please contact Aaron Price at 865-813-0576 or aaron.price@evcmail.org, or visit: https://www.emoryvalleycenter.org/dragon-boat-race/

Emory Valley Center has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families since 1955. Through a wide range of programs including early childhood education, behavioral health services, employment support, and residential services, Emory Valley Center is committed to helping every individual live a life of dignity, independence, and opportunity.

Explore Oak Ridge champions the “Secret City'' of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a scientific powerhouse and unforgettable tourist destination. With the hope of developing technology to end World War II, the U.S. government built the city of Oak Ridge under a cloak of great secrecy. Once a Secret City, Oak Ridge is anything but a secret today and has become a global leader in innovative science, engineering and technology.  The city has five excellent museums that give a one-of-a-kind, hands-on look at how the Secret City came to be and how the city’s global impact has drastically changed the world. Oak Ridge is also one of the nation’s premier competitive rowing destinations and has played host to national and regionally ranked regattas. The glassy waters of Melton Hill Lake are perfect for fishing, boating, paddling and rowing, and offer over 30 miles of pristine shoreline. The Oak Ridge outdoors scene has become so popular that it attracts visitors from all over the southeast to hike and bike the more than 85 miles of trails and greenways in the city. Oak Ridge continues to grow with significant scientific achievements and improvements to the town, such as plans for a new downtown area, continued retail development, and a wide variety of restaurants. Plan a trip to Oak Ridge so we can share our secrets with you.