About

The year was 2010 when the Asian Festival promoted an exhibition of dragon boat racing on the Scioto Mile river in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The non-profit, arts-and-culture organization recruited two paddling teams and choreographed the event. Thus was born the city’s first Dragon Boat Race.

From these modest beginnings, the Dragon Boat Race has grown to include more than twenty contending crews, with a generous wellspring of support coming from our non-profit partners, corporate sponsors, the city of Columbus, and dozens of volunteers.

Every year since then, Asian Festival hosts this exciting water sport, part of its collection of celebrations that foster better understanding of Asian culture and promote cross-cultural exchange. These events include the Asian Games and the main festival at Franklin Park.

Open to the public, and free of charge, these celebrations fall within the month of May, highlighting the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and bringing greater visibility to the Asian-American communities in Central Ohio.