HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. Gene McGee has been volunteering at the Lake Hernando Dragon Boat Festival for 3 years and he’s dedicated to its success.
“Ever since the foundation took over, the Dragon Boat Festival," McGee said. "My wife and I usually are the t-shirt people.”
McGee and other volunteers were setting up for the big day through the windy and rainy conditions on Friday evening, ahead of the big event.
@CCEduFoundation is getting ready for the largest Dragon Boat Festival in the country.
— Katya Guillaume (@KatyaonTV) November 6, 2021
See how they prepare for the big event tomorrow on @BN9.
You are not going to want to miss this event if you are heading up that way. pic.twitter.com/2xCqAsQsAe
“The little giant baby, right here in Citrus County," he said. "We are the largest Dragon Boat Festival in the country."
The festival is not only the largest in the state this year, but it's also the largest in the whole country!
More than 5,000 participants and spectators come out to Lake Hernando to take part.
“It really helps the kids in the classroom because what we do augments what we’re able to provide for them,” the veteran volunteer said.
The Citrus County Education Foundation has been spearheading the big event for the past three years, and if you ask McGee, he will easily say it’s more than just boat racing.
The foundation, run by Executive Director Shaunda Burdette, said proceeds go towards providing essentials for area schools.
“The proceeds from this event brings in a considerable amount of funding that helps us stock our teacher store, the free teacher store that provides school supplies to students who don’t have them," she explained. "It also provides basic needs for our kids who come to school who maybe don’t have shoes or maybe don’t have a coat.”
The festival, now known as “The Beast of the Southeast” is in its 8th year.
Anyone interested in donating to the Citrus County Education Foundation can find out more information by clicking here.