About the Festival

Join us at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on September 30, 2018 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. I Made It! Market will also participate in our festival!

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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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Dragon Boat Teams

  • 3 Rivers Dragon (PNC)
  • Asian Studies Center Water Panthers
  • Blue DragAHN Team (Highmark)
  • Booby Brigade
  • Magee Strong (UPMC)
  • Meticulous Paddlers
  • Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (AHN)
  • Nina's Dream
  • Nina's Hope
  • North Allegheny Varsity Hockey Team (Youth)
  • Paddling for Kathie/PFKs
  • Pitt Vipers
  • Pittsburgh Paddlefish
  • Save the Knockers/TSI
  • Seneca Valley Hockey Team (Youth)
  • Stop Dragon My Heart Around
  • The Trotting TaTas

Our Sponsors

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Thank you to this year’s sponsors: UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Highmark with Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh Chinese Restaurant Association, PNC, Lilly Oncology on Canvas, and The University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center.

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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