The Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival is coming to Lakeshore State Park this year on Saturday, August 13th, presented by the Milwaukee Chinese Community and partner organizations.
The highlight of the festival will be Dragon Boat Races starting at 8:00 and running through the afternoon.
A dragon boat is a large canoe type vessel decorated colorfully as a dragon. Eight to 20 rowers race the human-powered boats in exciting head-to-head competitions.
Dragon boats originate from China’s southern Guangdong Province, and dragon boat racing has been a traditional water activity for over 2000 years. The boats are rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails.
There will also be traditional dance performances, Chinese folk music, and martial arts demonstrations.
Kids and families will have the opportunity to make opera masks and lanterns, play traditional Chinese games, participate in a dragon parade, and learn to speak and write Chinese.
The day’s schedule is:
7:00AM – Team Registration & Campsite Set up
7:30AM – Team Captains Report to the Finish Line/Judge Tent for Final Instructions
8:00AM – Start Qualifying Dragon Boat Race Heats
10:00AM – Opening Ceremony – Dotting the Eye of the Dragon
10:40AM – Start Semi-Final Dragon Boat Race Heats
12:40AM – Lunch Break/Cultural Performances
01:30PM – Start Final Dragon Boat Race Heats
03:45PM – Awards Ceremony/Beer Tent Celebrations
05:30PM – Festival End
The festival is free to attend.
To find out more about the Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival, head to their website.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
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