To get up-to-date information of Riverfront happenings, don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter on our homepage!
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival
Saturday, August 7, 1pm-11pm
This year marks the 5th Annual Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival and it will be bigger and better than ever! Don’t miss one of Hartford’s premier cultural events as both the upper and lower areas of Mortensen Riverfront Plaza are transformed into a Caribbean village. Bring the whole family to enjoy numerous musical and dance performances while you sample authentic and world famous Caribbean dishes. Other highlights include a children’s village, domino tournament and salsa, merengue and calypso dance lessons. Taste of the Caribbean is produced in collaboration with CAYASCO.
Click here to see a YouTube video of the 2009 Taste of the Caribbean Festival.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
10th Annual Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival - Hartford, CT
Saturday, August 21 & Sunday August 22
Welcome to the exhilarating sport of dragon boat racing!
2010 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival. Building on the tremendous success of the past decade we continue to grow this festival and add new and exciting elements. We expect over 50 teams and 1,500 paddlers at this year's event.
Our event also features Asian entertainment, martial arts demonstrations, a table tennis tournament, educational cultural booths, delicious Asian cuisine, Asian games for kids and much more.
Conveniently located in the center of Downtown Hartford, our venue offers a one-of-a-kind festival and competition.
Share this information with your friends! CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT OUR TEAM RECRUITMENT FLYER!
CLICK ON ANY OF THE BLUE LINKS BELOW TO VIEW SPECIFIC EVENT INFO.
Three races for local, non-club teams (on Saturday, Aug 21)
Mixed, Women's, Breast Cancer Survivors, Youth, Corporate, and Municipal Divisions
Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association (ERDBA) Circuit Point Qualifier for ERDBA Members
Sponsorship Challenge Race
Race Management and Timing by Great White North Dragon Boat
Electronic Start & Finish with Video Replay
Event Highlights
Tent City – Local and club team villages
Two days of Asian entertainment, dancing, demonstrations, and activities
Authentic Asian food as well as American favorites
Special team Gourmet box lunch offerings
Kid’s Asian activities
Table tennis competition
Asian specialty beer garden
DRAGON BOAT RACING - Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm
Why Dragon Boat Racing?
Put together a dragon boat team for a group activity like no other. Your team of at least 8 women and 12 men will propel a 40 foot dragon boat in the water through teamwork and communication in a friendly competition against other teams!
No athleticism or experience required! Get your team on the water and experience one of the most unique teambuilding activities offered in Connecticut. See why those who’ve tried it are hooked!
Its easy to do:
- Just pull together 20 co-workers, peers, friends or family as paddlers on your team. No experience required, 16 years and older.
- Attend at least 2 practices before race day.
- All equipment and instruction provided.
This is a sport anyone can compete in! Share this information with your friends! Click here to view and print our team recruitment flyer!
It’s not too early to get your team together and start training. There are several good training videos that you can circulate among your team members. Visualization and dry land practice can give your team a tremendous advantage.
Click here to see the 2010 Race Rules and Regulations! Click here to view the 2010 Race Schedule! TO BE ANNOUNCED Click here to view the 2009 Dragon Boat race results! For more information contact the Race Director at 860.713.3131 ext.322 or email dragonboat@riverfront.org. Directions to the race venue and specific parking informationwill be sent via email.
PADDLER INFO Click here to see the 2010 Race Rules and Regulations! Click here to view the 2010 Race Schedule! TO BE ANNOUNCED Click here to view the 2009 Dragon Boat race results!
Things to do while your in Hartford - click here.
Registration Fees & Prize Money
REGISTRATION FEES CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT OUR 2010 REGISTRATION FEES!
PRIZE MONEY
This year's race will feature up to $15,000 prize purse that will be up for grabs over the course of the two day event, slated for August 21 & 22, 2010. Prizes will be awarded in the 500M and 200M Races for 4 Divisions, Premium Mixed, Premium Women, Premium Youth and Breast Cancer Survivor. DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED
The 2010 Hartford event will also serve as an ERDBA Qualifier. Timing will be conducted by Great White North Dragon Boat of Canada, one of the best race organizers in North America.
Cancellation Policy
REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS – Please remember that team cancellations will only be available if approved by the Event Director. Also note that there may be cancellation fees associated with any cancellation. All processing and service fees are non-refundable. This event is rain or shine. There are no refunds for inclement weather.
Click here to see a photo gallery of past dragon boat events and Asian festivals.
To see a You Tube video of a Dragon Boat practice race, click the arrow below.
Event History
In 2000, Riverfront Recapture held its 1st Dragon Boat Festival and attracted over 30 local teams to compete in a 1-day community-based competition. Over the years the competition has grown and the festival has developed into a culturally rich and vibrant event that showcases the Asian community that thrives in the Hartford region. Now after 8 years, the downtown Hartford riverfront is widely recognized as one of the premier dragon boat venues in the country. We produce a very well-run competition accompanied by a high quality, action packed festival. If you haven’t been to Hartford lately, you would be pleasantly surprised. Hartford has become a desirable vacation destination with great restaurants, clubs, accommodations, entertainment, history, and natural beauty. We would like to invite your team to what will surely be the best dragon boat event of your season – The Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival on August 21st & 22nd.
For more information about the Chinese history of Dragon Boat Racing, CLICK HERE.
This video is made by Damon Scott, a local afternoon radio personality on 96.5TIC FM. We got him in a boat last week to participate in a dragon boat practice with a local team from the Hartford Steam Boiler. This is his perspective on Dragon Boat Racing. It's always great to get a fresh perspective!
Volunteer to Help at this Event
The Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival has grown over the years and with over 60 teams, we need more help than ever. If you want to be part of the action we have several fun volunteer opportunities including Dock Marshaling, Team Coordinators, and Registration.
Our volunteer scheduling is divided into 4-5 hr morning and afternoon shifts:
• On Saturday, August 21st we need help from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm or 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• On Sunday, August 22nd, we need help from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
If you would like to work more than one shift or working both days, you are more than welcome.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival, please send an email with your name, cell phone number, and availability to cmyers@riverfront.org.
Where to Stay and Play while your in Hartford
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS -
Riverfront Recapture has negotiated great rates with three event host hotels! Booking your hotel stay with one of the three host hotels below results in increased money in the prize purse for club teams, thanks to a special arrangement made between Riverfront Recapture and the host hotels. Be sure to tell them you're booking your room with the 2010 Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival Event!
Getting around town -
Free Downtown Shuttle - The Hartford Star Shuttle is a free, downtown shuttle bus that leaves the CT Convention Center approximately every 12 minutes, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. On Saturdays, the shuttle runs from 3:00 to 11:00 PM. Fifteen Star Shuttle stops bring you directly to dozens of Hartford hotels, historic sights, restaurants and entertainment venues! To see the Star Shuttle route, click here. For more information, or extended shuttle hours for special events, click here.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Join the Milan Cultural Association of Connecticut for a unique celebration of Indian culture. Come down to the Riverfront for Indian music, food, handicraft and entertainment! Click here for info on the Milan Cultural Association of Connecticut.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Pipes In The Valley Celtic Festival
Saturday, September 25, 11am-10pm
This Celtic Music Festival celebrates eight years at the Riverfront with bagpipes, Celtic Fiddling, Scottish Drumming, Step Dancing, Kids Activities, Highland Games, and plenty of beer! Produced in collaboration with the Olde Burnside Brewing Company, this year’s event promises a day filled with fun, flavor and world-class entertainment! CHEERS!
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
