Join us in September 6th, 2025 for the annual Lake Lanier Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Georgia’s biggest Hong Kong cultural event of the year!
Thousands of competitors and spectators join to cheer their favorite teams, witness cultural events during the opening ceremonies, and indulge in cuisine from around the world. Here is a little of what you will see at our event which is regarded as one of the premier cultural, diversity events in the Greater Atlanta area!
RACE DAY Event Schedule
- 5:30am – Parking Opens
- 6am – Venue Opens/Team Check-in Opens
- 6:30am – Off-site Parking and Shuttles Open
- 7:10am – Blessing of the Boats Ceremony
- 7:30am – Laotian Honor Guard/National Anthem
- 7:40am – Marshalling Opens for Heat 1
- 8am – Dragon Boat Races Begin
- 12pm – Opening Ceremonies Begin
- 1:30pm – Finals Begin
- 3:40pm – Awards Ceremony
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is undoubtedly one of Hong Kong’s most popular events, drawing thousands of spectators and racing teams from across the globe. The popularity of this event is growing at a surprising rate throughout the world but especially in the USA, Canada and Europe!
Since 1976, when Hong Kong introduced the world’s first international races, dragon boat racing has grown in popularity, with clubs and associations forming in countries throughout Asia, Europe and North America and competitions taking place in cities around the world. The Dragon Boat Festival has deep cultural ties, evidenced by the ceremony and ritual surrounding the races. Four days before a traditional festival, the dragon boats are taken from repose to have their heads and tails attached. Typically, a community leader is invited to “dot the eye” of the dragon in a ceremony designed to rouse its sleeping spirit. While in some cultures the dragon is considered to be evil, in Chinese culture dragons are viewed as strong, powerful and frequently a symbol for the spring rains and growth. Dragons are also viewed as protective and benevolent, which is why dragon boat racing is often thought of as a means of spreading good luck. In return for staging the dragon boat races, it is believed that the community will be blessed with happiness and prosperity.
The dragon boat itself is a spectacle to behold. The slim, 39-foot teakwood racer (and fiberglass models) is crafted today in only a handful of boat-yards in Hong Kong. Distinguished by a fierce-looking dragon’s head at the prow and a tail at the stern, traditional dragon boats require thirty days, three craftsmen, and years of practice to produce!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT BY VISITING: www.dragonboatatlanta.com
