– 7/17/08 @ 11am
Buddhist Monks, Musicians and Martial Artists were present to bless and unveil two new Dragon Boats For The 2008 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.
Traditional Chinese Musicians and Shaolin Martial Artists will look on as Shi Fu Jie Tong from World Chan Buddhist Association performs the traditional blessing of the two new dragon boats, kicking off the festivities leading up to the 2008 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York and bringing prosperity and good fortune to Manhattan.
Thursday, July 17 at 11:00 AM (rain or shine), at the Bethesda Foundtaion and Terrace Opposite NYC’s Central Park Boathouse. Entrance at 72nd St., NYC. The boats were recently made in Canada for the 18th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York-2008, a free multi-cultural celebration and sporting event that will be held August 2 and 3, 2008 from 9am to 5pm (rain or shine) at Meadow Lake, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York began at Battery Park in 1991. The Dragon Boat Awakening Ceremony will be followed by performances and light refreshments for invited guests. Adrian Benepe, NYC Parks Commissioner, dignitaries and several invited guests will have the opportunity to hitch a ride in one of the boats on the Boathouse Lake and experience the thrill of Dragon Boat Racing.
The Giant Dumpling will also be joining us representing Chef One’s 5th annual Dumpling Eating Contest! The 18th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival In NY Takes Place On Meadows Lake, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Sat Aug. 3rd & Sun Aug 4th from 9am-5pm rain or shine.
A Free 2 Day Multicultural Sporting And Cultural Event WITH 150 Teams From Around The Country Competing For Cash & Prize.
See http://www.hkdbf-ny.org for directions and further information.
Admission to the HKDBF-NY is Free, Events take place Rain or Shine.
Directions to the Festival by car – take the Long Island Expressway to Van Wyck Expressway to exit 11 south, then stay on service road to the Park. Parking is severely limited. Please take the MTA or car pool. Directions to the Festival by bus/subway. Again this year we’ve worked with the MTA to insure easy and safe transportation to the Festival site. Festival goers can use their MetroCard to take the #7 Train to the Shea Stadium stop and transfer from there to special MTA shuttle buses that will take them directly to the Festival site, or they can walk from the Shea stop (about 15 minutes) or take the colorful park trolley to the festival site. Parking on-site is limited, you can park at the Shea Stadium and take the special MTA shuttle with your MetroCard or use correct change.
Downloadable photos are available at http://www.hkdbf-ny.org (web designed and maintained by Fusia Communications) This years Sponsors include; the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, NY; HSBC Bank USA, Verizon, Chef One, Con Edison, Prudential Financial, J.P.Morgan Chase, New York Community Bank, Western Union, Bank of East Asia Ltd., MetLife, State Farm Insurance, Shanghai Commercial Bank, New York Hospital Queens, Cathay Bank, Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, Vallo Transportation, Ltd.,The Princeton Review, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Office of the Queensborough President, Helen Marshall, NYC &Co Media &Creative Partners: WNBC TV 4, The New York Times, Sing Tao Daily News, GoodNews Broadcast.com, RNN, MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc.(AM1480, Sino Television, Sinocast, M-Weekly Magazine), Fusia Advertising, Inak Design, Metro Asian Food Magazine, In Focus Magazine and the Times Ledger Newspapers.
