You're Invited: Boston's Historic Dragon Boat Festival Returns for its 46th Year
The Charles River will come alive as the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, America's oldest dragon boat festival, returns for its 46th year.
The Charles River will come alive as the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, America's oldest dragon boat festival, returns for its 46th year on Sunday, June 8th, 2025. The festival's rich history dates back to 1979 when three visionary educators at Boston Children's Museum introduced dragon boat racing to North America. What began with makeshift dragon-headed boats created by teachers and students in Boston Chinatown has evolved into a major sporting event featuring sleek fiberglass vessels and professional competition.
"The Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is the oldest dragon boat festival in the United States. Hosting nearly 70 teams and 50,000+ festival attendees and athletes, it is one of the largest dragon boat festivals on the east coast." - The Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
The free event, held rain or shine, will take place near the John W. Weeks Footbridge on the Charles River in Cambridge, with activities extending along Memorial Drive. Spectators can expect a day filled with competitive dragon boat racing, cultural performances, and a diverse array of Asian cuisine from local food trucks. As stated by the organizers, "Festival day includes arts and crafts, performances, food trucks, and racing. It is a fun event where families and friends can enjoy the summer weather and be part of the community. We hope to see you all!"
The festival, now organized by Boston Dragon Boat Festival, Inc., a non-profit organization, carries a meaningful mission: "to promote and develop the sport of dragon boating, to promote the cultural understanding and appreciation of Asian cultures, and to encourage healthy living for all."
If the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival sounds like an event you won't want to miss, then be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, June 8th, 2025. For the most most up-to-date information, visit the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival's official website at www.bostondragonboat.org.
Enjoyed this read? This is just a taste of what you'll get every Monday morning! Our Community Connections weekly newsletter, curated by two local writers (that's us!), brings you a hand-picked roundup of our articles that are most relevant for the upcoming week ahead to help you feel more connected to your community.
To join over 1,000 subscribers who already love starting their week with us, visit communityconnections.beehiiv.com to read the latest issue and subscribe.
Just a reminder: even if you're subscribed to us here on Substack, you won't automatically receive the weekly newsletter. We send our weekly newsletter through Beehiiv and publish individual articles here on Substack, in addition to MSN, NewsBreak, and Medium.