The 43rd annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Charles River.
Boston’s annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival returns for an in-person celebration in 2022, complete with racing on the Charles, Asian street food, activities for kids, and cultural performances. The oldest dragon boat festival in the country, Boston’s festival was first held in 1979 and helped to popularize the sport across the country.
The festival celebrates Chinese and Asian cultures by bringing together folks of all backgrounds citywide. The celebration takes place in Riverbend Park near the John W. Weeks bridge by Harvard Square. Festival-goers can expect performances like Taiko drumming, Kung Fu displays, and classical Chinese music, and food trucks will include Asian vendors like Bao Nation, Moyzilla, Bon Me, Nirvana, Eggroll Cafe, and more.
Dragon boat festivals are traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth moon on the lunar calendar and commemorate the ancient Chinese poet and activist Qu Yuan, who lived from 340 to 278 B.C. Dragon boats, which originate from China’s Pearl River Delta region surrounding Hong Kong, have a typical setup of 20 paddlers, one steersperson, and one drummer. Boats are generally made of lightweight material like fiberglass (although traditionally they were wooden) and adorned with decorative dragon heads for competitions.
Registration for dragon boat teams is currently open. Each year, the Boston Dragon Boat Festival typically welcomes over 2,000 paddlers from across the country. The festival is also currently accepting submissions for sponsors, volunteers, and partners.
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