Dragon Boat Festival a first

Published 4:30pm 15 June 2021

See dragon boats in action and enjoy free vegetarian food, fun games for the family, stalls and entertainment, when the Dragon Boat Festival comes to Clontarf for the first time on June 20.

The event, hosted by the Brisbane North Chinese Association and Multicultural Queensland, is on from 9.30am-3.30pm at Pelican Park.

Brisbane North Chinese Association President Carl Wu said it would be the first time the event had been held in the Moreton Bay Region.

“This is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture as dragon boat competitions show a combatant spirit of nation and its people, especially to Chinese migrants who came to Australia a hundred years before,” Mr Wu said.

“Also, this festival will show the how the Chinese (culture) is getting into local communities as most the dragon boat paddlers are local Australians.”

Boats to hit the water

The Dragon Boats are made in China and Mr Wu expects four or five to be at the event from Redcliffe Red Dragon Boat Club, Sandgate Dragon Boat Club and Brisbane Typhoon Dragon Boat Club.

They will demonstrate the sport and compete. The official competition starts at 10.30am.

“This is the first time Brisbane North Chinese Association and Multicultural Queensland have worked together with wider communities and local communities in partnership to run this event,” Mr Wu said.

“It is expected to grow in the coming years and attracting a lot of tourists into Moreton Bay Region. This event suits families working together to have fun and is a chance for culture exchange, making friends and getting to know each other.

“This is a multicultural event. We have about 60 diverse community leaders attending and multicultural performers.”

Entry to the event is free.

It is supported by the State Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council, and 1^st Care Community.

To find out more, search Dragon Boat Festival (Clontarf) on Facebook.