- December 4, 2025
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Karen Iafratto with Warriors on Water walked under the bridge of oars after competing her race.
The Pink Dragon Ladies, based out of Tampa, consists of members who are breast cancer survivors. "Dragon boating is the best part of cancer," assistant coach Kathy Cabble said.
Sally Florsek of Warriors on Water and Melissa Romero of Scorch caught up after their race.
It was a photo finish for one race.
Teams had their game faces on as they waited to start paddling toward the start line for their race.
Nathan Benderson Park Paddling was ready to make its way to the start line across Turkey Lake.
Eastport Sun Dragons' Kevin Luck waved with his oar to people on shore before his team competed.
Teams were battling strong winds at Turkey Lake.
Many high-fives were given as teams exited the water.
Teams were battling it out on Turkey Lake.
Warriors on Water is a team of breast cancer survivors. The team has about 132 paddlers.
Members of REACH of Central Florida's team were ready to get in the boat and race their hearts out.
Relentess traveled all the way from New Hope, Pennsylvania to participate in the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival.
Coryn Murphy was greeted with high-fives after finishing her race with Mekong Dragon, a team based out of Atlanta.
Members of various teams came together to give high-fives to paddlers as they finished their races.
Dawn Van Dyke, of Stuart, left, and Port St. Lucie's Rhoda Fleck, right, attended the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival to cheer for Nancy Griffin with Mekong Dragons in Atlanta. Van Dyke, Fleck and Griffin were neighbors in Atlanta.
Yumei Yu with Orlando Hanqing Tai Chi gave a tai chi demonstration.
Heather Lincoln cheered for Tom Perry of BNY out of Lake Mary. "It was awesome," Lincoln said of the race. "This was my first time so I didn't know what to expect. It was so exciting."
Stephanie Oyen, Bhaskar Ganguly and Bryson Ganguly cheered for the dragon boat team from Nathan Benderson Park, of which Bryson Ganguly's grandfather was a member. "Go Pop Pop!" he said.
The Eastport Sun Dragons were in sync with every stroke in the water.
Karen Iafratto with Warriors on Water, which is based out of Orlando, had a huge smile on her face as she exited her boat.
Teams lined up on both sides of the exit gate, put their oars in the air and cheered as other teams exited their boats during the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival Saturday, Oct. 4, at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake.
Once Iafratto made her way through the oar bridge, she joined the end of the line to cheer for others.
Although the dozens of teams at the festival were competitive in the water, there was nothing but support for each other on land.
In conjunction with the dragon boat festival was the Asian Cultural Expo Program, which features a tai chi demonstration and workshop by Orlando HanQing Taiji, Vietnamese folk dance and workshop by Thuyen May Productions, a K-Pop dance and several other performances.
