FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 12, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 37
Hong Kong Dragon Boat
Festival returns to Queens
Joseph Xu and his
son Abraham felt safe
to attend the event
because of the COVID-19
safety measures.
buzz
Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
Eighteen teams competed in the scaled down Dragon Boat races.
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Aft er 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 fi shermen raced
toward him, splashing their paddles and
beating drums to drive fi sh and water
dragons away.
Qu Yuan’s tragic death marked the
beginning of dragon boat racing and is
commemorated each year on the fi ft h day
of the fi ft h 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 offi cials and VIPs
and traditional Chinese art performances
on the main stage in the enclosed Model
Airplane Field.
Eighteen teams competed in the morning
and aft ernoon 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.
Th e team representing the Queens
borough president’s office, “Queens
Rising,” and the team representing
the mayor’s offi ce, “City Hall
Dragons,” 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.
Aft er 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. “If you need more proof, ask the City
Hall Dragons. Queens Rising is more than
just the name of our victorious race team.
Aft er all, it’s our mantra coming out of the
pandemic.”
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 offi cials, 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 aft er 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, “Th at’s what it is all
about. When we fi rst 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.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng wished
the teams good luck “in the spirit of
friendly competition.”
“I’m glad to see that everyone can be
here safely,” Meng said. “And I hope you
continue to stay safe and healthy.”
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.”
VIPs and elected offi cials dot the eye of the dragon with red paint for good luck.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
