Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival

Celebrate Asian and Pacific Island cultures through traditional music and dance, hands-on art activities, food, and martial arts demonstrations on the upper plaza with community and club teams racing on the river. Register a team, or cheer on your favorite paddlers. Learn more about dragon boating here.

Links:
2026 Results
Race Registration
Volunteer Registration
Vendor Registration
Hotel Reservations

Entertainment Schedule:

Lower Plaza
7:30 am: Opening Ceremony Dragon Dance by Malee’s School of Tai Chi & Kung Fu

Plaza Corner Stage

• 10 am: Jinling Dance Group
• 11 am: Asian Performing Arts
• 12 pm: East Culture Arts, Inc.
• 1 pm: All Connecticut Chinese Chorus
• 2 pm: Phoenix Performing Arts
• 3 pm: Connecticut Chinese Culture Center
• 4 pm: The Hartford

Lily Bed Stage

• 11 am: Tat Wong Kung Fu
• 12 pm: Malee’s School of Tai Chi & Kung Fu
• 1:30 pm: Mountain River Taiko
• 2 pm: Long River Budo
• 3 pm: Julong Wushu

Sponsors: This event is made possible by Travelers, DraftKings, Hartford HealthCare, The Hartford Insurance Group, Aetna, American Eagle Financial Credit Union, Hartford Steam Boiler, Nassau and Hampton Inn & Suites, East Hartford.

Parking:
Free parking for this event is available on-street on both sides of the river. Paid, convenient parking is available in the Connecticut Convention Center Garage – park on the fifth floor and use the exit on the north side of the garage, allowing direct access to the Convention Center, Connecticut Science Center, and Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.