Chinatown Lions return to London Regatta Centre
London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will be returning to London Regatta Centre, Dockside Road on Sunday 26th June.
The free, fun, family cultural day out features 7.5 hours of dragon boat racing, a pan-Asian street food festival, martial arts & Tai Chi displays, traditional lion dancing, and live music on the East West Festival stage introducing new music and entertainers from East and West.
As Europe’s premier dragon boat festival, over 40 teams will race in the tournament. This year’s entrants include clubs, community centres, corporations and amateur teams who will be battling it out on the water, during group heats, to win the 4 cups and top honours on offer.
21st London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
The 21st London Dragon Boat Festival is organised as a charity fundraiser by London Chinatown Lions Club with support from Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, The Hong Kong Executives Club, London Chinatown Chinese Association and The London Chinatown Chinese Community Centre and up to 10,000 people from the UK and overseas are estimated to attend this year’s event.
Pic: lhkdbf.co.uk
What’s on
As one of London’s cross-cultural, fun-packed sporting festivals, everyone is welcome to sample Chinese and South East Asian culture at its finest. This includes an annual street food festival, which this year includes Canaan Chinese and their sweet and savoury bao from Kao-Pao; Ayam Happy, providers of Indonesian satays and nasi goreng, The Banh Mi Boss – Bite Mi, Ca Phe Vn’s Saigon Street, Newdlez Pad Thai – freshly fried Thai cuisine, Enak Enak: Malaysian Kitchen, crispy duck wraps from Khay’s Kitchen, Roll & Rock’s delicious Goi Cuon or summer rolls, and Le Swine – the best bacon and duck egg rolls in London- serving from 08:30. Also this year, The Caravan Bar Company will be serving Pimms, Prosecco, wine, beer and soft drinks from their uniquely styled retro caravan.
There will also be a raffle draw held at the event with great prizes including a pair of return flights to Hong Kong and dinner for two at The Shard.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:
8.30am: Team Boat Registration
10am: Racing Competition Starts
12pm: Entertainment Commences
12.30pm: pm Dragon Eye-Dotting Ceremony
12.45pm: Opening Speeches
5.30pm: Dragon Boat Racing Finals
5.45pm: Trophies Presentation
5.55pm: Raffle Draw
6pm: Close
What: London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2016
When: Sunday 26th June (8:30am-6pm)
Where: London Regatta Centre, Dockside Road, London E16 2QT
Cost: Free
