Dragon Boats to Make Major Waves in Meadow Lake This Weekend
In 278 BC, Qu Yuan, a poet and court minister in the Chu kingdom, jumped into China’s Ni Lo River after hearing that his home province had been invaded. Local fishermen rowed their boats to save the despondent man, while some locals beat drums to scare away dragons. Yuan drowned, but a tradition was born….
In 278 BC, Qu Yuan, a poet and court minister in the Chu kingdom, jumped into China’s Ni Lo River after hearing that his home province had been invaded. Local fishermen rowed their boats to save the despondent man, while some locals beat drums to scare away dragons. Yuan drowned, but a tradition was born. Fast forward to this weekend, and more than 2,000 participants — organized into over 170 teams — will paddle and steer their way through New York City’s biggest lake as part of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Now in its 23rd year, this annual competition attracts athletes from around the world who compete in custom-made teak boats for cash and prizes in various divisions. But the event is also a multi-cultural extravaganza with West African dances, performances by Broadway musicians, martial arts demonstrations, Chinese crafts and a lavish food court.
Details: Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Aug. 10 & 11, 9 am – 5 pm (rain or shine), Meadow Lake, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, free.
Photo: HKDBF
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