When the Boston Dragon Boat Festival started in 1979 it was the first of its kind in North America. Since then, the festival has spread in popularity for paddlers and spectators. This spring marks the festival’s 45th year on the Charles River in Cambridge, MA. Festival President Gail Wang spoke with us about the organization's missions, special moments, and what visitors can expect at this year’s festival on Sunday, June 9.
Over 60 teams from across North America travel to Cambridge to compete on the Charles. Teams are comprised of 22 paddlers working together in a race down the 500-meter course, beginning at the Western Avenue Bridge and ending at the John W. Weeks Footbridge. Races begin around 7 a.m. on Sunday, and spectators are welcome to gather along the river and watch as the colorful, 40-foot boats paddle by.
The festival has a fleet of 15 Hong Kong style dragon boats, including a new boat donated this year by festival sponsor CVS. “It means a lot to us,” Gail said of the new addition. “We promote Asian cultures and dragon boat racing, but also in general we promote wellbeing and healthy living for all, so that really connects with CVS’ mission.” Following tradition, the new boat will be blessed by three Buddhist monks the Friday night before the festival.
When asked which part of the festival she looks forward to, Gail’s response was a quick “Everything!”; however, two special moments really stood out to her.
“At noon you will see a group of people throwing flowers into the Charles River, around the time the boat race stops. They will speak, sing, hold hands, and hug. This is the Wellness Warriors team for cancer survivors… Cancer survivors found dragon boat racing is something they love to participate in. You will see cancer survivor teams everywhere in North America.” Wellness Warriors is the first dragon boat team of cancer survivors in Massachusetts. Their noontime flower ceremony honors those touched by cancer.
Around the same time, another significant event happens on the docks: the Eye-dotting Ceremony. “The ancient belief is when you paint a dragon you save the eye for last. Once you dot the eye it comes alive and will fly, so it is symbolic. This is an ancient tradition that is still in practice,” Gail shared.
After the Eye-dotting Ceremony, the festival continues to showcase Asian cultures through music, martial arts, demonstrations, arts and crafts, and dance, including two new performances. "Since it's the Year of the Dragon, we put lots of dragons everywhere," Gail mentioned. "This year the Dragon Dance troupe at Northeastern University will perform twice amongst visitors and really have people get close to the performances. We've also invited Asian American Ballet Project to do Dragon Dance ballet… We've never had a ballet performance."
In addition to new performances, a record number of food vendors will be present, featuring Thai, Korean, Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Indian, and more cuisine. "What's a culture without food? We have ice cream, of course! We also have mochi donuts, bubble teas, and another ice cream that's plant-based," Gail said on this year's offerings. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will also be onsite providing free drinking water–don't forget to bring your own bottle!
Gail, originally from Hangzhou, China (one of Boston’s sister cities), began working with the Boston Dragon Boat Festival in 2002. Today, the festival is still run entirely by volunteers who work year-round to bring the festival to life. “I hope these new services and new programs make a better learning and connecting experience for our visitors, sponsors, and teams,” Gail shared.
Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is free for all to attend. On race day, two free shuttles will run between Cambridge and Chinatown in Boston for those who may need extra assistance getting to the festival site. If you're visiting for the festival, stop by the Cambridge Visitor Information Center for more things to do in Cambridge.
