Dragons were spotted recently on North Park Lake, but they weren’t the fire-breathing kind.

And the misty morning provided the perfect backdrop for the seventh annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 27, hosted by Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness organization.

Dragon boat racing is a Chinese tradition that dates back 2,500 years, according to the festival’s website.

The day began at 8:30 a.m. with students from Winchester Thurston performing a traditional lion dance before the survivor celebration, which featured food trucks, music and lots of dancing.

“It was a fantastic day. This was our largest festival to date with 34 teams competing, including teams from Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio and from Eastern Pennsylvania,” said Sandy Hirsch, a member of Hearts of Steel and co-chair of the festival.

A ceremonial eye-dotting, or painting, of the dragon’s eye onto the boat, done by a cancer survivor, kicks off the racing. The eye-dotting awakens the dragon from last year’s race.

Traditionally, each boat has an ornately carved dragon’s head at the bow and a tail for the stern. The hull is painted with dragon scales.

The colorful 40-foot canoes consist of 20 to 24 rowers, sitting in pairs, in two rows. The race itself is 200 meters, according to the race website.

Each boat also has a steersperson in the rear and a drummer up front to keep cadence for the rowers.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, which formed in 2017.

“It’s a great source of support. It’s a great way to stay active, and it’s a great way to build friendships,” said Judy Menosky of Wilkinsburg, who was part of the Hearts of Steel team.

Mary Grace Nichol of Crafton is a 10-year cancer survivor and supporter of Hearts of Steel. She is HER2-positive for breast cancer, which is hormonal. Nichol said she always has to keep track of the status of the disease and her health — and to be a “fighter.”

Dressed as a “pink queen,” she was there reminding everyone of the importance of “early detection” and to “do what you need to do to survive.”

Janice Kuretich of Forest Hills, a member of Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, has been cancer-free since 2013.

“It just makes me feel alive. Great community and great connections,” Kuretich said.

A list of this year’s participants and winners can be found online at pghdragonboatfestival.org under the “Resources” tab.

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