Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

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02 August 2007 - 03 August 2008

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2007

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York is an annual sporting and multicultural event held in August on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York to celebrate the fifth moon (or the fifth month) of the lunar calendar.
All the world's dragon boat festivals commemorate Qu Yuan, a noble officer in the kingdom of Chu during the 4th century BC. After being discharged by the evil and dishonest prince, Qu Yuan, dismayed by the thought of kingdom under the prince's tyrannous rule, clasped a large stone to his ankle and leaped into the Mi Lo River. While nearby fishermen dashed in to save him, they failed and his body was never recovered. Every year, the fishermen returned to the river with rice to feed his hungry ghost.
The dragon-boat races symbolise the frantic attempts of the fishermen to rescue Qu Yuan and glutinous rice pudding called Zongzi is eaten to remember the rice offerings made in his honour.

Location

Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, NY

Hours

9AM-5PM

Admission

Free

Schedule

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008
10:30 am Damien Bassman and Broadway Friends featuring Ramon Vinluan. A band of Broadway musicians backing a talented Filipino singer play a variety of songs from multiple genres of pop, Broadway and jazz.
11:30 am Dragon Dancing Team and percussions welcomes all and, together with invited dignitaries, officially kicks-off the 18th annual HKDBF in NY.
1:00 pm Kevin So & Midnight Snack. Called the "breakout band of the year" Kevin So, musician, singer and songwriter, known for his mix of R&B, blues and folk stylings, performs original music.
2:00 pm Shaolin Kung Fu. Warrior monks from the Shaolin Temple perform martial arts. In the history of the Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD, generation after generation of monk generals and soldiers protected the temples from wars and riots of society.
3:00 pm Rob Lok. The first Chinese American Clown to perform in the renowned Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus, astounds and amazes in his comical interactive circus spectacle fit for people of all ages.
4:00 pm Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. Colorful, traditional folk dances of old Mexico.

Native sounds: Natives of Ecuador and Peru will be performing their lyrical music on traditional instruments throughout both days.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008
10:30 am Chinese Music Ensemble of New York. Founded in 1961, it is the oldest and only full-scale Chinese orchestra in the United States and the Americas. Its present membership of nearly fifty musicians play practically every type of Chinese music on Chinese instruments, both ancient and modern. For the HKDBF-NY performance a small ensemble from the orchestra performs in repertory on traditional string, wind and percussions instruments.
11:30 am Cover-to-Cover. A group of seasoned musicians play your favorite rock and roll tunes with fresh new vitality and expert musicianship.
Noon The Chief One 5th annual Dumpling Eating Contest. Prizes for each division, 1st place $1000, 2nd place $500, 3rd place $300. For registration, please call 718-744-6999 or email dumpling@chefonecorp.com, registration deadline is 07/28/08.
1:00 pm Shaolin Kung Fu. Warrior monks from the Shaolin Temple perform martial arts. In the history of the Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD, generation after generation of monk generals and soldiers protected the temples from wars and riots of society.
2:00 pm Simon Yu's Fusion Band Guitarist, composer and arranger, Hong Kong musician Simon Yu uses the influences of his traditional Chinese Musician family in his playing and compositions. His micro-tonal music mixers Chinese/Indian/Turkish micro-tonal systems with Western modern groove music.
3:00 pm Niall'Leary Irish Dance Troupe. A former All-Ireland and World Champion from Dublin, Ireland, Niall O'Leary is a much sought after choreographer and instructor. Niall and his dancers, now living in New York, blend their influences and experiences to create an exciting Irish Dance Show. The troupe tours internationally, and most recently with the USA tour of The Three Tenors.

Directions

By Car - Take the Long Island Expressway to Van Wyck Expressway south, exit at Exit 11, then stay on service road to the Park. There will be NO Parking in the usual Parking Lot unless a Parking Pass is Presented.

#7 to Willets Point/Shea Stadium - transfer to the special event bus.

E, F, R trains to Jackson Hts/Roosevelt Avenue - transfer to the Flushing bound #7 train to Willets Point/Shea Stadium.

Buses in the area: Q48, Q58, Q65A and Q88.

Contact

Email: info@hkdbf-ny.org
Fax: +1 718 746 0899
Phone: +1 718 767 1776
http://www.hkdbf-ny.org/

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Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

Daily Events in NYC, New York, USA