The goal of the St. Charles Active River Project is to create a lively riverfront environment and experience that is the centerpiece of the community.Dragon boat races returning to the Fox River in St. Charles. Races would be part of the Heart of the Fox fundraising event in June
Shaw Media file photo.
Dragon boat races could return to Fox River in St. Charles next summer as part of the Heart of the Fox fundraising event organized by the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles and the St. Charles Kiwanis.
ST. CHARLES – Dragon boat races could return to Fox River in St. Charles next summer as part of the Heart of the Fox fundraising event organized by the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles and the St. Charles Kiwanis.
The races were a highlight of the the Pride of the Fox RiverFest, which had been scaled back in recent years and renamed Festival of the Fox. The last year of the event was in 2017, as organizers of the event cancelled 2018's edition.
John Rabchuk, co-chairman of the Heart of the Fox event, said they will contract with the Pride of the Fox organization to run the dragon boat races as part of the Heart of the Fox event, which will be held on June 13 and June 14 in Pottawatomie Park. Next year will be the third year of the event, previously known as the Bob Leonard 5K/10K/Color Run.
"We saw the opportunity to make the Bob Leonard Run a bigger event," Rabchuk said.
He also is a volunteer with the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles and is a member of the St. Charles Kiwanis.
"The dragon boats sponsored by Pride of the Fox will be an event under Heart of the Fox, much like the Colonial Cafe Kids Color Run is an event sponsored by Colonial Cafe. And that's another event that is part of Heart of the Fox."
The Ivy Academy Kids Zone, which features an obstacle course, will return to Heart of the Fox next year after making its debut this year.
"It proved to be very popular," Rabchuk said. "We had far more attendants than we anticipated."
A 5K run will also be returning next year. But organizers are dropping a tug of war competition because of a lack of participants.
Besides the dragon boats, next year's Heart of the Fox event will feature other new activities, including potentially a ninja training course for children. In addition, the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual health and wellness fair in conjunction with the event.
Rabchuk noted that people have been asking for the return of the dragon boat races.
"And obviously with the River Corridor group, their focus is on the Fox River and enhancing the utilization of it," he said. "The dragon boat races are just a natural fit."
The event will be family focused.
"Our focus for Heart of the Fox is family fun along the Fox River," Rabchuk said. "We're really focused on the family aspect of that."