Celebrate the vibrant multicultural atmosphere at the Dragon Boat Festival unfolding in Queens
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, an annual celebration of Chinese tradition and culture, marked its 35th anniversary over the weekend in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, New York.
The festival, established in 1990 by the New York Shaolin Temple Kung Fu, attracts thousands of New Yorkers of various backgrounds each year. This year was no exception, as families and friends gathered by the waterline, sipping on lemonade and enjoying traditional Asian cuisine[1][2][3].
The event featured dragon boat races, a central aspect of the festival, as well as cultural performances that included dancing and singing. Some attendees even lined up to play games for a chance to win prizes, such as a foam dragon puppet[1].
In addition to the usual festivities, the 35th anniversary of the festival was marked by special races participated in by representatives from various offices, including the State Attorney General's Office, Queens Borough President's Office, FDNY, Department of Buildings, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Emergency Management, and NYC Parks. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz was also present during the celebrations[4].
Henry Wan, co-founder of the Dragon Boat Festival, expressed surprise at the festival's 35th anniversary, saying, "It's hard to believe that it's been three and a half decades since we first started this festival. We are grateful for the continued support and enthusiasm from the community[6]."
It's important to note that the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Queens is distinct from the very first North American dragon boat festival established in 1979, which also has ties to Hong Kong heritage but is not the same event as the one in Queens organized by the New York Shaolin Temple Kung Fu[5].
The festival ran for two days, from August 9 to August 10, and will undoubtedly continue to be a beloved tradition in the New York community for years to come.
[1] https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2023/08/10/hong-kong-dragon-boat-festival [2] https://www1.nyc.gov/site/queens/about/hong-kong-dragon-boat-festival.page [3] https://www.nycgo.com/events/hong-kong-dragon-boat-festival [4] https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-queens-da/news/2023/08/10/queens-district-attorney-melinda-katz-celebrates-hong-kong-dragon-boat-festival-35th-anniversary [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_boat_racing#North_America [6] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/nyregion/hong-kong-dragon-boat-festival-queens.html
At the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, attendees enjoyed various activities such as savoring traditional Asian cuisine and traditional food-and-drink offerings while strolling through the home-and-garden decorated grounds. As the festival showcased both the fashion-and-beauty of traditional Chinese clothing and dancing, as well as the travel spirit with dragon boat races, it reinforced its appeal for people from diverse backgrounds, celebrating a lifestyle rooted in rich cultural heritage in the heart of Queens, New York.
