About the Festival

Join us at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, September 26, 2021 for a day of fun at North Park Lake! Watch exciting races or form your own dragon boat and compete against other community teams for medals and awards. Cultural demonstrations, food, marketplace and other activities will be available, so bring the whole family to this FREE event.


History of the Dragon Boat

Rich in tradition and Chinese Culture, Dragon Boating dates as far back as 2500 years ago. Legend says that Dragon Boating was conceived when Qu Yuan, a great poet, was exiled by the King and in great hopelessness Qu Yuan then committed suicide on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The community was deeply saddened by his death and paddled out in search of his body; hitting the water with their paddles and beating drums. Thus tradition was formed by creating Dragon Boat Races in his memory.

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2019 Dragon Boat Teams

  • 3 Rivers Dragon
  • Asian Persuasion
  • Bra Wars/AHN
  • Cleveland Dragons
  • GoPink!DC
  • Kentucky ThoroughBreast
  • Meticulous Paddlers
  • Nips Ahoy
  • North Allegheny Varsity Hockey Team
  • Pine Richland Hockey
  • Pitt Global
  • Pittsburgh Paddlefish
  • Renal River Riders
  • Seneca Valley Hockey
  • STK Boat Rockers
  • Team Pink
  • TSI

Our 2019 Sponsors

sponsors2019
Thank you to this year’s sponsors: Highmark with Allegheny Health Network, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, The University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center, Edward Jones, Duncan Financial Group, Don’s Appliances, Broker’s Settlement Services, Inc., and Sargent Electric Company.

Festival Organizers

This year's festival is brought to you by the Hearts of Steel, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania.

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