In support of dragons

Photo: Contributed

Penticton's Dragon Boat Festival has a new backer.

Skaha Hills has joined the sponsorship group of the 15-year-old event.

Heading into 2016, the festival on the shores of Skaha Lake will host more than 2,100 athletes from Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest during the second week of September.

"Many of our participants have been coming to Penticton year after year and rave about our city. It is very likely that some of them may be thinking about moving to Penticton or investing in a vacation home here. Skaha Hills is a great fit," said festival president Launa Maundrell.

Matt Kenyon, president of Skaha Hills, said: “It is a great event for the South Okanagan, promotes a healthy lifestyle and outdoor living. I see the teamwork going into the racing, and that’s what we strive for at Skaha Hills. Dragon boating is a growing sport and has a strong community sense, and we want to see that continue to grow for Penticton."

The luxury-home community is situated on 550 acres overlooking Skaha Lake. It is a joint partnership of the Penticton Indian Band and Greyback Construction of Penticton.

The festival will see a market, beverage garden, breast cancer survivor’s race and carnation ceremony, and two days of racing.