For Immediate Release: August 30, 2007
Media Contact: BVTC Public Affairs, 401-724-2200
Dragon
Boats Ready for Race
Enjoy Asian Heritage and Culture During
the 8th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day
Festival Saturday, September 8, 2007,8:00am-5:00pm, happening along
Pawtucket, RI waterfront
The Taipei Economic & Cultural Office
in Boston, MA, the City of Pawtucket, The Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council, and the Pawtucket Arts Festival presents the 8th Annual Rhode
Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival on Saturday,
September 8, 2007 from 8:00am-5:00pm
This annual celebration of Asian
heritage and culture happens at the School Street Pier, located of Route
114 south, on the Pawtucket, RI waterfront.
Teams will be competing for cash and
trophies. Representing local businesses and organizations from Rhode
Island as well as Dragon Boat groups from across Northeastern US, the
teams will race in varied heats along a stretch of the Pawtucket River.
There will also be challenges to benefit charities of choice.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
president Bob Billington says, “There is still time to join the fun and
register your team!”
The use of dragon boats for racing is
believed to have originated in southern central China more than 2,500
years ago along the banks of the Yangtze River. Dragon boat racing as
the basis for annual water rituals and festival celebrations has been
practiced continuously since this period. In Pawtucket, the Dragon boat
race is held as part of the Taiwan Day Festival celebrating the Chinese
community in conjunction with the Pawtucket Arts Festival.
In addition, there will be a
celebration of local Asian culture with entertainment coming from
Taiwan, food, crafts and River Tours.
The formal opening ceremonies for the
races and festival will be held at
10:30 am on the pier with officials,
dignitaries and sponsors. Prizes will be awarded to the Dragon Boat race
team finalists following the completion of the races at 5 pm.
Sponsors of the Rhode Island Chinese
Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Festival scheduled for Saturday, September
8, 2007 on the Pawtucket riverfront include:
- American Airlines
- Bank of America
- Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
- City of Pawtucket
- John H. Chafee Blackstone River
Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
- Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
- Pawtucket Arts Festival
- Rhode Island Association of
Chinese Americans
- Rhode Island Monthly
- Rhode Island Sports Council
- Taiwan Tourism Bureau
- TECO Boston
- 10 NBC
The races and festival are a signature
event of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, being held August 25-September 16,
2007. This is a citywide showcase of visual and performing arts,
interactive workshops, music, theater and dance performances. For a
complete listing of events, updates, locations and sponsors visit the
website
www.pawtucketartsfestival.org or call toll free 1-800-454-2882.
For more information on the races and
festival, visit
www.dragonboatri.com or contact the Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council at 401-724-2200 (out of state call toll free at 1-800-454-2882.)
EDITORS NOTES: Attached is a brief
schedule of events for the Races & Festival happening on Saturday
September 8, 2007. Please call or visit the web for more details on any
particular event.
We also request special news and photo
coverage of this event that emphasizes Asian heritage and ethnic culture
representing the local Asian community in Southern New England.
Please post this event on your
respective media websites, as this major event is open FREE of CHARGE to
the general public.
8th
Rhode Island Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY:
Taipei
Economic & Cultural Office, Boston, MA
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 8, 2007
Event Site:
School Street Pier
On the Pawtucket River
School Street (Route 114 south)
Pawtucket, RI
10:00-10:30 am Lion Dance
By: Shaolin Hung Gar Martial Arts
Academy
10:30 - 11:30 am Opening Ceremony
11:30 - 12:00 am Martial Arts
Performance
By: Shaolin Hung Gar Martial Arts
Academy
12:00 – 1:00 pm Intermission
1:00 – 1:30 pm Taiwan Temple
Festival
By: Chinese Folk Art Workshop, Inc.
1:30 – 2:00 pm Traditional Chinese
Folk Dance
By: New England American Chinese
Art Society
2:00 - 2:30 pm Taiwan Temple
Festival
By: Chinese Folk Art Workshop, Inc.
2:30 - 3:00 pm Traditional Chinese
Folk Dance
By: New England American Chinese
Art Society
3:00 - 4:00 pm Ending Ceremony
11:00 - 4:00 pm Traditional Arts &
Crafts Demonstration
1:00 – 4:00 pm Taiwan Folks Sports
Demonstration in
Children’s Area.
Dragon Boat Website
Blackstone Valley Visitor
Center, On the banks of the Blackstone, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860