Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York celebrates its 30th-anniversary milestone

With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival roars back to full strength this year to celebrate its 30th anniversary at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York on July 30 and 31 (New York time).

The festival attracted the participation of over 170 teams, involving more than 1 500 competitors from across the US. Among them were members of the Foreign Trade Commissioners Association in New York, who competed in the festival for the first time, as part of the Hong Kong and Friends Dragon Riders Team.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, HKETONY Director, Candy Nip, thanked the organizer, sponsors, paddlers and participants for their relentless support to the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, making it the largest dragon boat event in the US.

This year is also the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). A special "HKSAR 25th Anniversary Challenge Race" was dedicated to celebrate this momentous occasion. On shore, the HKETONY organized a mini-exhibition to showcase the city's intangible cultural heritage through the colorful work of Hong Kong illustrator Stella So.

Other fun-filled activities included music and dance performances by multicultural artists, arts and crafts stalls, and international food delights.