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ALSO COVERING AUBURNDALE, COLLEGE POINT, DOUGLASTON, GLEN OAKS, FLORAL PARK
• LITTLE NECK LEDGER
• WHITESTONE TIMES
Aug. 13 - Aug. 19, 2021
HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL RETURNS
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
After COVID-19 sank the oldest and
largest dragon boat event in the United
States last year, the Hong Kong Dragon
Boat Festival returned to Flushing
Meadows Corona Park on Saturday,
Aug. 7, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Usually, the festival, which draws
thousands of visitors during “normal”
times, takes place over two days
with more than 120 boats honoring the
legend of Qu Yuan, a poet and court
minister who lived from 339-278 BC.
Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Ni
Lo River to protest the emperor’s policies.
In an attempt to save his life, local
fishermen raced toward him, splashing
their paddles and beating drums to
drive fish and water dragons away.
Qu Yuan’s tragic death marked the
beginning of dragon boat racing and is
commemorated each year on the fifth
day of the fifth lunar month.
With the public’s health in mind,
only the fully vaccinated and those
with proof of a negative COVID test
within 72 hours of the event were allowed
to attend the free sporting and
multicultural festival, which also featured
a ribbon-cutting ceremony with
elected officials and VIPs and traditional
Chinese art performances on
the main stage in the enclosed Model
Airplane Field.
Eighteen teams competed in the
morning and afternoon sessions for
trophies and cash. Listening to the
rhythmic bangs of the drummer heading
the boat, paddlers raced across the
lake in colorful boats adorned with
dragon heads at the front and tails at
the back.
The team representing the Queens
borough president’s office, “Queens
Rising,” and the team representing the
mayor’s office, “City Hall Dragons,”
Eighteen teams competed in the scaled down Dragon Boat races. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
competed in a special race for bragging
rights, with “Queens Rising” emerging
victoriously.
For Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards, the event and
his team’s win proved that Queens
emerged from the pandemic stronger
than ever.
“It was such a thrill to participate
in this year’s Hong Kong Dragon Boat
Festival, one of Queens’ most iconic
and beloved cultural celebrations.
After the pandemic forced the cancellation
of last year’s event, seeing the
festival return in style this weekend
with teams and families from across
Queens participating proved that our
borough is coming back stronger than
ever,” Richards said.
On land, the Chinese Music Ensemble
of New York entertained the crowd
on the main stage before the opening
ceremony.
Henry Wan, chairman of the Hong
Kong Dragon Festival, was joined by
VIPs and elected officials, including
Congresswoman Grace Meng, Queens
DA Melinda Katz and Councilman Peter
Koo, for the festival’s opening.
He shared that they brought back
the festival this year with three goals
in mind: Celebrating the comeback after
COVID, supporting the small business
recovery and addressing the rise
in anti-Asian hate crimes.
Seeing all the happy faces, the
chairman, who is looking forward
to celebrating the 30th anniversary
in style next year, said, “That’s what
it is all about. When we first started
two months ago, you know, we
weren’t sure what the result would
be. But the fully vaccinated procedure
works and a lot of people did
show up today.”
Joseph Xu attended the festival
with his 2-year-old son Abraham and
enjoyed Dance China NY’s performances,
CASYM Steel Orchestra and
NY Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Association.
Xu said it was great to see the
community come out and celebrate the
Chinese culture in a safe environment.
“We are a community. It’s good to
see each other,” Xu said. “And at this
event, since everybody is vaccinated,
it’s safe. So we feel very good about it.”
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