Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York celebrates 20th anniversary

This year’s Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York hit a milestone as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.
A record number of teams from across the United States, Canada and Italy, took part in this year’s 20th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), held August 7-8 at Meadows Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Ms. Anita Chan, was a guest of honor at this year’s festival.

The festival, a Chinese tradition with more than 2,000 years of history, was first introduced to New York by the HKETONY in 1991. As the HKDBF-NY celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it has also become a fixture of the New York summer scene.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Chan noted the festival enjoys wide support from the media, with local broadcast networks – New York 1 and Multi-cultural Radio – broadcasting the event live, allowing virtually everyone in New York to be part of the festivities.

“I am also heartened to learn that this year we have a record number of more than 170 teams. Other than from all across the United States, there are teams from Canada, and more excitingly, we have one team coming all the way from Italy,” said Ms. Chan. “This point to one very important fact – our dragon boat festival is international, and that is exactly what our purpose is for the festival.”

A series of commemorative events were held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Festival. On August 6, the eve of the Festival launch, New York landmark – the Empire State Building – featured the colors of the Festival with its show-of-light spectacular.

Ms. Chan joined members of the organizing committee of the HKDBF-NY to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 30 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the HKDBF-NY.

On June 23, a 30-second video commemorating the 20th anniversary celebration was launched on HSBC’s jumbo-tron screen located in the heart of New York’s Times Square. A blissful and traditional eye-dotting of two colorful dragon boats also part of the festivities during the “Dragon Boat Awakening Ceremony” ceremony held in New York City’s Central Park on July 1. As part of the ceremony, Buddhist monks gave blessings to the dragon boats as well as for prosperity and good fortune to New York City.

HKETONY is the principal festival benefactor. Every year, the HKETONY has a booth at the festival to update visitors on Hong Kong’s latest developments. Brand Hong Kong souvenirs were also given to those attending the festival.