BOSTON Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
Cultural Festival
june 8th, 2025
First held in 1979, the Boston Dragon Boat Festival is the first and oldest dragon boat festival in North America.
It has grown from a small local event into one of the largest Asian-American cultural events in New England, drawing more than 50,000 participants and spectators in 2023.
events
The Festival hosts many features for families and attendees to experience in the beautiful summers of Boston.
There are cultural performances during the day, ranging from traditional Asian dances, martial art demonstrations, and live classical Chinese music. The Arts & Crafts section has origami, coloring, and zhong-zhi making.
Food vendors are also available to help your family and friend's cravings during the day as your explore the Festival.
Root for your favorite teams who are racing dragon boats all day on the Charles River!
origins
Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth moon on the lunar calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the ancient patriot-poet Qu Yuan who lived from 340-278 B.C. Qu Yuan was a minister who advocated reforms in his home state of Chu and was banished because of the King's refusal to listen.
In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and people. In 278, when Qu Yuan heard that his home had been invaded, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. The people of Chu rushed to the river to rescue him. Too late to save Qu Yuan, they splashed furiously and threw zhong-zhi (steamed rice wrapped in reed leaf), into the river as a sacrifice to his spirit and to keep the fish from Qu Yuan's body.