PHOENIX — The 14th annual Arizona Dragon Boat Festival is coming back to Tempe Town Lake on Saturday and Sunday for a weekend of competition.

The festival features competitive dragon boat races with teams from all over the nation, food and music starting at 8 a.m. each day on the north shore of the lake.

Admission and parking is free.

According to the Arizona Dragon Boat Association, there are eight active teams that usually always welcomes new members. The teams have a minimum requirement of 16 paddlers each for the standard 500 meter races.

The Arizona Dragon Boat Association is a part of the International Dragon Boat Federation and the Pacific Dragon Boat Federation.

The dragon boat association was founded in 2003 as a nonprofit organization and was tasked with increasing the presence of the dragon boat racing sport in Arizona. In the past, the nonprofit has hosted competitions with local, regional, and corporate business teams.

The Arizona Dragon Boat Festival started in 2004.

For those who want to join a team in the future, the new membership fee is $135. The membership allows a person to paddle with as many teams as they want as long as there is a spot available.

New paddlers can test the sport out for free the first two times in the boat.