NY,Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival opens with grand opening, over 180 teams gather to compete

The 35th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival opened on the 9th at Flushing Meadows Corona Park and continues today (the 10th). This New York summer cultural event attracted over 180 teams and over 2,000 competitors. Over 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the two-day event, experiencing the excitement of dragon boat racing and the charm of diverse cultures.

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival is hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Committee, with sponsorship from numerous businesses and organizations. A special 35th Anniversary Exhibition showcases the Festival’s history since 1991, with traditional wooden dragon boats on display for photo opportunities.

At the opening ceremony, Dragon Boat Festival Chairman Wan Sanquan stated that dragon boat racing blends tradition and modernity, representing not only a test of speed and skill but also a test of teamwork. This year’s theme, “Year of the Snake,” symbolizes wisdom and unity, and aims to serve as a platform for promoting Asian American culture and strengthening the community. In his speech, Chinese Consul General in New York, Chen Li, emphasized the spirit of “being in this together” not only for the event but also for facing global challenges, calling for collaboration and a shared future.

Several elected officials also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, City Councilman Ed Braunstein, Chen Feng, a representative from State Attorney Letitia James’ office, and Gu Yaming, Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. They unanimously praised the Dragon Boat Festival for injecting vitality into Queens’ multicultural community, and several presented certificates of commendation to Wan Sanquan and the organizing committee.

In addition to the water races, the event also featured a “Hong Kong Street Food” zone, international food trucks from the Philippines and Mexico, and performances including dragon and lion dances, martial arts, Chinese music, parent-child interactive games, and multicultural dances, attracting a large number of visitors.