BY AMANDA MOSES
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival came roaring back to Flushing Park’s Meadow Lake to make an epic splash on August 12th and August 13th.
Historically, the Dragon Boat Festival is an observance of Asian culture honoring the poet Qu Yuan, who is said to have drowned himself in protest of an emperor’s policies in the third century B.C. Dozens of locals boarded their teak boats in an attempt to save him, and even beat a drum to ward off fish and water dragons from feeding off of Yuan’s body; thus launching the tradition of Dragon Boat Racing.
For the first time in the competition’s 30-year history in New York City a mayor participated in the Dragon Boat race. Mayor Eric Adams joined his City Hall team to compete against Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the Public Advocate and Comptrollers Offices. While Adams steadily beat a drum as his team rowed fervently, his team could not outpace the Comptroller’s Office who took first place.
The Dragon Boat Festival, in addition to being a sporting competition with over 180 teams participating and 1,500 competitors, is a multi-cultural event with more than 20,000 attendees. The occasion afforded race participants an opportunity to bond over barbecuing burgers, hotdogs, and chicken, as well as a chance to cheer on their friends from the lakeside.
Attendees were able to try an assortment of entrees from food trucks, watch musical per-formances, dance routines, martial arts de-monstrations, and take part in various activities and free giveaways. It was truly a family fun affair for all to enjoy.
Photos by Amanda Moses
