The annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival is a great way to spend a summer weekend on the Charles River. As the pioneering dragon boat festival in the United States, it commemorates the passing of the revered Chinese poet and patriot Qu Yuan. It grew from a small neighborhood event into the area’s largest water festival, attended by over 20,000 spectators each year.
Activities
The most interesting part of the festival is the race between about 70 teams, accompanied by various cultural performances. Each boat has 20 paddlers to row the 500-meter course. While you watch, you can try Asian fare and traditional Chinese arts and crafts. The event features various Asian communities in the Greater Boston area, promoting their distinct cultures.
Location & Tickets
Boston Dragon Boat Festival's main festivities usually take place on the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge, near the John W. Weeks Footbridge. Admission to the festival is free of charge for festival-goers and racing spectators.
History of the Festival
The inaugural Dragon Boat Festival in the United States was established by three friends in 1979. The event showcased grand dragon head constructions affixed to the racing boats alongside cultural performances, making it a vibrant and artistic affair. Moreover, the festival showcased community art through week-long exhibitions at prominent venues across Boston, including the John Hancock Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boston Public Library.
Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in many countries on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The tradition began about 2,000 years ago when Yuan drowned himself as an act of protest. Boston was the first North American city to hold a Dragon Boat Festival, and it is the largest such event in New England.
