The 2017 Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will take place Saturday, September 9th at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue.
This event is one of the area’s most loved – and Georgia’s largest Hong Kong cultural event. More than 50 teams compete, and over 5,000 people from all over attend to watch and cheer on the races. The event also includes cultural performances, shopping experiences and culinary delights.
Parking opens at 5:30am, with the venue opening at 6am. Buddhist monks will bless the boats at 7am. the National Anthem is at 7:15am and the dragon boat races begin at 7:45am.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 9th
Time: Venue opens at 6am, with races beginning at 7:45am
Location: Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506
More Information: For more information, please visit https://www.dragonboatatlanta.com/.
The Origins of Dragon Boat Racing
The origins of dragon boat racing date back to ancient Chinese legend. Having fallen prey to corrupt officials and banished by the local courts, statesman and poet, Qu Yuan, roamed the countryside writing poems about his beloved country. As legend has it, he ultimately succumed to his sorrow and drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. Fishermen raced in their boats to save their hero Qu Yuan but were unsuccessful.
The rituals of the dragon boat races we see today come from this Chinese legend of Qu Yuan. For the Chinese, dragons are symbols of strength, power and growth, and the dragon boat races are thought to bring good luck to the community.
The popularity of dragon boat racing continues to grow. It is now an international sport, enjoyed by many around the world.