There may have been no Dragon Boat races this year, but in 2012 the Peachtree City Rotary Club plans to be back at one of the most popular new community events in the area.

The club has announced it is purchasing six new 30-foot dragon boats this year, and the race date has been set for Sept. 22, 2012.

The new fiberglass boats will be lighter, stronger and hold 10 paddlers which is expected to increase the excitement and competitiveness of the event.

The boats will continue to feature the same dragon heads and tails, and also the drummers and steerers.

The Dragon Boat race will be the highlight of the 2012 International Festival, an event that began in 2007 with an emphasis on celebrating the cultural variety of the community.

The 2012 event will be presented not just by the Peachtree City Rotary Club but also by the Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau, which wants to expand the festival to “promote Peachtree City’s reputation as ‘business friendly’ to the international community.”

Organizations and neighborhoods are encouraged to register as soon as possible because the number of teams will be limited, organizers said.