The Heart of the Festival: Serve Denton

The Lake Lewisville Dragon Boat Festival is more than just a music concert, good food, and a fun water sport event; it serves a greater purpose by raising awareness and funds for Serve Denton, a dedicated nonprofit organization. Serve Denton works to improve the quality of life for residents in Denton, Texas, through various community outreach programs. By participating in or attending the festival, visitors contribute directly to these impactful initiatives, making a meaningful difference in the local community.

Dragon Boat Racing

"There are many competing explanations for Duanwu Jie, the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. All involve some combination of dragons, spirits, loyalty, honor and food—some of the most important traditions in Chinese culture."

Dragon boat racing dates back more than 2,300 years in China, rooted in ancient rain-invoking rituals and in the legend of the poet-statesman Qu Yuan. Early communities raced dragon-adorned boats to encourage rainfall, ensure good harvests, and ward off misfortune. Over time, these practices blended with accounts of Qu Yuan’s death in 278 B.C. After being exiled for advising an alliance his king rejected, Qu Yuan witnessed the downfall of his state and drowned himself in the Miluo River. Villagers raced out to save or recover him, beating drums to frighten away spirits and fish.

Dragon boat racing is ascribed to organized celebrations of Qu Yuan beginning in the 5th or 6th century A.D. But scholars say the boats were first used hundreds of years earlier, perhaps for varied reasons. On the lunar calendar, May is the summer solstice period, the crucial time when rice seedlings were transplanted. At the same time, says An, “according to Chinese traditional belief, the date figured with double ‘5’ is extremely unlucky.” To ensure a good harvest, southern Chinese would have asked the dragons to watch over their crops, says Jessica Anderson Turner, a Handbook of Chinese Mythology contributor who holds a Ph.D. in folklore from the Indiana University. They would have decorated their boats with ornate dragon carvings, “and the rowing was symbolic of the planting of the rice back in the water,” Anderson Turner explains."

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

George Dunham & The Bird Dogs

"In 2012, George made the decision to shift The Bird Dogs' focus fully to charity. The Bird Dogs anchor charity events like JubJam and Shoot 4 The Stars, and frequently team up with other bands for other worthy causes. It's good music, for the good."

Since their first gig together in 2008, the Bird Dogs have steadily entrenched in the Texas country music scene, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in the business. Their music delivers a powerful blend of Texas-country, gritty rock and three-part harmonies, with songs that reflect family, love, loss, and hope for the future. Best known as co-host of the Morning Musers on KTCK The Ticket, George Dunham has always had music in his life. Through The Bird Dogs, George has found an outlet for his songwriting with an ensemble that brings reverberating life to his words and music. With Steve Porcari on electric guitar, Travis Behl on bass, Bryant "Pablo" Russell on drums and Craig McDaniel on vocals and rhythm guitar, this line-up consistently delivers exciting live performances to enthusiastic audiences locally and around Texas. The Bird Dogs have played festivals and fundraisers with Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Cory Morrow, Prophets & Outlaws, Kacey Musgraves, Lee Ann Womack, Kevin Deal, Spur 503, The Tejas Brothers and Jason Boland, among others. They can be heard on KHYI 95.3 The Range, KFWR 95.9 The Ranch, and KXT 91.7. Their annual live music event, JubJam, is critically acclaimed and has raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

Source: https://www.birddogsband.com/