Traditional Dragon Boat Awakening Ceremony!
Buddhist monks, musicians and martial artists to bless and unveil Dragon Boats for the 2010 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 dragon boats, Kicking off the festivities leading up to the 2010 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, and bringing prosperity and good fortune to Manhattan. Two Boats will be put in the water for a “mini mock demonstration race,” Adrian Benepe, NYC Parks Commissioner, dignitaries and invited guests will have the opportunity to hitch a ride in two of the boats on the Boathouse Lake and experience the thrill of Dragon Boat Racing.
Thursday, July 1 at 10:30 AM (rain or shine), at the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace opposite NYC’s Central Park Boathouse. Entrance at 72nd St., NYC.
The boats were recently made in Canada for the 20th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York-2010, a free multi-cultural celebration and sporting event that will be held August 7 and 8, 2010 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 two of the boats on the Boathouse Lake and experience the thrill of Dragon Boat Racing.
The 20th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in NY takes place on Meadows Lake, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Saturday, August 7th and Sunday August 8th from 9am-5pm rain or shine.
See 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 www.hkdbf-ny.org.
