The Dragon Boat Festival is a casual and fun day filled with music, culture, art, food and dragon boat racing.  Join members of NYSN as we explore this fun day in Flushing Meadow Park.  Dragon boat racing is from the Chinese culture and has been celebrated in Flushing Meadow Park for over 30 years (see below)!

How it works:

• The group will meet at the Mets Willets Point station  at 11am sharp.  We will take the event shuttle to the festival from there.
• Our host will be the glue that holds the group together before you go out to explore on your own.
• We will get everyone together for lunch from any one of the food vendors that will be there.
• After lunch we’ll check out the dragon boat races!
• You can stay as long or little as you  like.

Festival Features:

• Live musical performances
• Food vendors with authentic Chinese classics
• Arts and crafts
• Cultural demonstrations
• Games
• Dragon boat races

Cost:  General Admission $15 /  Lifetime VIP Members $10: includes host fee only.  Festival admission is free.

DRAGON BOAT HISTORY

Dragon boat racing is based on a legend of the ancient patriot-poet Qu Yuan who lived from 340-278 BC. He was a Court Minister who advocated reforms for his home state of Chu. The King of Chu, however, disliked him for it and banished him from the state.

In exile, he wandered the country writing poetry expressing his concerns for his homeland and its people. In 278 BC when Qu Yuan heard that his home had been invaded, he jumped into the Ni Lo River and drowned himself.

Legend has it that local fishermen raced out to the river to save him, but couldn’t. To prevent his body from being eaten by the fish, they threw rice dumplings into the water as an offering to his heroic spirit. This was the beginning of Dragon boat racing.

Today, rice dumplings are eaten on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which is commemorated each year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Four days before the festival begins, the dragon boats are taken from their resting places and their heads and tails attached. They are then ritually blessed by a Buddhist monk and later brought to life before the races by having their eyes dotted in red paint.

In Hong Kong, it is the fishermen of the territory’s outlying islands such as Lantau, Lamma, and Cheung Chau, who observe these rituals. After the races, it is customary to spend the remainder of the day observing street theater, traditional Chinese dance performances, martial arts and other cultural demonstrations.

Can I come alone? Yes, most guests do! It’s a great way to meet new people.

Dress Code:  Dress for the weather

Ages: 21+

Questions? Email Dave Cervini at dave@newyorksocialnetwork.com or call 212.873.2256, M-F 10am to 4pm.

Nonrefundable unless canceled.

Looking for more fun ways to explore NYC? CLICK HERE.

Illness Protocols/Refunds
In accordance with current city and state protocols vaccination status or masks are not mandatory for this event.  However, we do ask that participants act in a responsible manner and do not attend if feeling ill, showing symptoms or have been recently exposed to any of the current illnesses. Mask wearing is optional unless the venue or city has mandated that.  Everyone should respect the comfort levels of others as we transition into this next phase of socializing.

This event is nonrefundable unless canceled.  If you have tested positive for Covid or are sick with any ailment  that prohibits you from attending, we will do our best to provide you with credits for select future events with a copy of your positive test results or doctor’s note. Credits may or may not equal the cost of the event missed and may only be applied to events selected by NYSN.