Please note: There is a fee to participate in Dragon Boating and the Head of the Riverfront. Spectating is always free.
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.
Enjoy the long summer days by performing Pilates outside! Join instructors from Personal Euphoria Pilates for free Pilates classes near the Amphitheater at Great River Park in East Hartford. All are welcome to attend with no experience necessary! Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat, towel, water bottle, and sunglasses. Arrive early to reserve your spot on the grass as space is limited to the first twenty-five participants. Free classes run Saturday mornings beginning July 17 to August 21 from 8:30-9:30am. Visit www.pilatesct.com for more information or contact Personal Euphoria at 860-716-9215. In case of inclement weather, the website and voicemail will list if the class will be running or not.
What is Pilates? Pilates is designed to strengthen core muscles, including the abdominals, back, and glutes, while lengthening and maintaining loose, limber limbs. It strengthens the body while keeping joints mobile and flexible. You’ll feel your muscles engaging without straining your joints. The exercises provide variations to meet different body types making it an exercise option for everyone.
For information on changes or cancellations to the classes click here.
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.
September 3, 4 & 5
On-water Race Testing, Friday, 10am - 4pm
Racing Event, Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 5pm
Over Labor Day weekend, the Connecticut River will once again come alive with the roar of engines and the spray of rooster tails. The premier PRO outboard racing organization in the United States, US Title Series, will conclude their 6 month long season here in East Hartford and Hartford. World record racers from around the country will bring their custom American and European manufactured 2-stroke engines - all dialed in for high performance racing.
The competition will be divided into classes range from 125cc up to 1100cc engines, with speeds reaching 120 miles per hour! There is no thrill more exciting than seeing the blur of boats thundering across the surface of the water into their first turn. With youth competitors, starting at age 11 with their K-PRO Hydro boats, to veteran drivers, the Riverfront US Title Series Power Boat Race promises to offer something for everyone.
Come join us for an exciting, action packed Labor Day weekend of family-oriented racing and good old American fun!
There are ten race classes in the U.S. Title Series based on the type of boat and the size of the engines. Engines are specifically designed for racing, burn methanol fuel, and are manufactured all over the world. A separate race is run for each class consisting of three heats per class and three to four laps per heat. There are two distinctive types of boats in the U.S. Title Series: Runabouts and Hydroplanes. Runabouts are hulls that have a flat bottom. They turn well, ride rough, and as any experienced Runabout rider will tell you, require the most skill to drive. U.S. Title Series has 4 Runabout classes dependent on engine size: 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc. Runabouts don’t have seats– the driver kneels and has to lean hard into the turns while bouncing on the water at speeds up to 100 mph. With one hand on the throttle and the other on the steering wheel, these sharp turning boats require quick reflexes and a love for adrenaline.
Hydroplanes are the fastest boats on the water. Designed to ride on a tunnel of air over the water, these boats nearly fly—up to 130 mph. The 500cc Hydros require a capsule and a 5-point harness seating system similar to NASCAR for safety conditions. These drivers carry oxygen and many use radios in their helmets to receive direction from their crew-chief. U.S. Title Series also runs 125cc, 250cc, and 350cc Hydroplanes. As one of the most popular classes in the world, 350cc Hydroplanes balance the abilities of high speeds with good handling, which can result in some very exciting racing.
Pit Passes
If you want to get up and close to the action, Pit Passes will be on sale for $5.00. Access to the Pit Area requires that you sign a liability release. No alcohol is allowed in this area.
Viewing
There are 3 great viewing areas for the Riverfront US Title Series Power Boat Race:
1. Great River Park, East Hartford - See all of the boats in the Pit Area and view the start and finish from the banks of the Connecticut River.
2. Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford -View raciong from the grassy terraces as they power into their first turn at speeds approaching 100 mph
3. Founders Bridge between Hartford and East Hartford - Get an overhead view of the action and take in the entire race course.
All of the viewing sites for The Riverfront US Title Series Power Boat Race can be reached on foot.
Entertainment
Live entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment in the amphitheater in Great River Park, East Hartford and Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm.
Food and Beverage
Delicious food and thirst quenching beverages will be available for purchase on both sides of the river.
Great River Park, East Hartford
• Primo’s (Italian sausage & peppers)
• F & W Caterers (hot dogs, cheese steak, fries, funnel cakes)
• Bricin’s Festival Foods (fried dough)
• Mazz’s Kettle Corn
• Carvel Ice Cream
• Rita’s Italian Ice
Non-alcoholic beverages are available at food vendor booths
(Valid I.D. and wrist band required for consumption of alcohol – It is unlawful to bring outside alcohol into the Riverfront parks.)
Merchandise Event merchandise will be available for sale in both Hartford and East Hartford. Precedes from merchandise sales help support Riverfront Recapture’s non-profit programming efforts.
Directions and Parking
Everything you need to know about visiting our parks including directions and parking information can be found here:
Make a weekend out of the US Title Series Power Boat race and stay in one of our Host Hotels. Riverfront Recapture has negotiated special arrangements with 2 very nice properties that are walking distance to the venue.
Sheraton, East Hartford ($90/night*): Approximately 2 blocks from Great River Park, this hotel offers a full service restaurant, bar, heated indoor swimming pool, and shuttle service. For reservations, call 860.528.2065 or Click Here.
*Reservations must be made by August 20, 2010 for special discount.
Hampton Inn & Suites ($109/night*): Directly adjacent to Great River Park, this brand new hotel features a full complimentary breakfast, and an indoor heated swimming pool. For reservations, call 860.282.2500 and use Reservation Code SPB
*Reservations must be made by August 2, 2010 for special discount.
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.
