Dragon Boat racers will take to the water Saturday morning, May 7, at Ramsey Creek Park for the 12th annual Asian Festival. The team competition is an important part of the Chinese traditional calendar and originated over 2,300 years ago in southern China, and is just one of many cultural traditions celebrated at the festival.

A Dragon Boat is canoe-shaped, weighs about 600 pounds and measures 40 feet in length, with a wooden dragon head attached to the bow and a tail to the stern. Boats are crewed by a team of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steer-person. Competing teams paddle in sync to a rhythm pounded by the onboard drummers.

Organized by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation department and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association, the Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat race are efforts to introduce Asian culture and traditions to the greater Charlotte community. In addition to the boat races, citizens will enjoy authentic food, stage performances, cultural exhibits and Miss Asian Festival Scholarship talent competition.

Wells Fargo and the Red Cross will have booths on site and will be collecting donations for the survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

For information on the festival, donations, or CAACC, contact John C. Chen, CAACC President, at 704-540-6808 or Johnc217@aol.com.

WANT TO GO?

The event is free and open to the public, and runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road.

Parking is available at the Palace Theatre, 17220 W. Catawba Ave, with free shuttle service to the festival site. Onsite parking is not available.

Click here for a full schedule of events.

WANT TO RACE?

Races are free and open to the public, though racers must be at least 15 years old to compete. For registration details, contact cltdragonboat@yahoo.com.

Heats for the dragon boat race begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

Click here to see a gallery from 2009 festivities