London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2015

The 2015 London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 20th year with an extensive programme of racing, entertainment and a vast array of street food, providing an excellent opportunity to enjoy Chinese culture in the capital.

The free, family-friendly, one-day event is organised by London Chinatown Lions Club with support from Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, The Hong Kong Executives Club and The London Chinatown Chinese Community Centre and this year is expected to attract 10,000 visitors from across the UK and overseas.

In addition to being one of the capital’s most essential summer waterside festivals, the dragon boat racing itself promises to be as exciting as ever with 40 club, corporate and amateur teams battling it out for 4 cups and top honours. Everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned paddlers are encouraged to enter the competition and recruit teams of 16-20, to take part in a minimum of 3 races. Dragon boats and drums are provided.

Europe’s most spectacular Dragon Boat Festival will include the following attractions:

- 7.5 hours of dragon boat races with trophies presented at 5.30pm
- Food festival offering the flavours of Eastern Asia
- Live music on the East West Festival stage showcasing new music from East and the West
- Martial arts & Tai Chi displays
- Traditional Chinese lion dancing

Appearing live on the East West Festival stage and the Cultural stage (presented by DJ Alice from Spectrum radio) will be new and breaking musical talent and entertainers from both corners of the globe including Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist dancer Kieran Lai recreating his ‘Tin Man’ routine which has seen him reach the Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer 2015, British-born Chinese singer, Will Li, who made the 2015 European round of The Voice China, 2014 The Voice contestant Luciee Marie Closier, YouTube sensation 3-piece girl band Vanquish (who are currently working with legendary producer songwriter Eliot Kennedy) , Hong Kong’s DJ Mi Key (who has worked alongside World DMC Championships DJ Tommy) will be dropping tunes from around the world. Also performing will be Crash Island, a unique four-piece ‘dark tropical’ rock band based in Stoke Newington, whose 2 EP releases have been supported by XFM and BBC London, and the Jeffrey Alexander School of Martial Arts (JASMA) who will be demonstrating the diverse flavours of martial arts: Tai Chi, Chi kung, Shaolin, and Wing Chun Kung Fu.

The event also features a food festival offering the tastes of South East Asia, which this year includes Yi-Ban one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in London, Ayam Happy – Indonesian satays and nasi goreng, Banh Mi 11 – Vietnamese crusty baguettes, rice vermicelli salads and pho noodle soups, Ca Phe Vn’s Saigon Street – delicious Vietnamese tea and coffee, Korrito – authentic Korean BBQ meets Mexican burrito from Boxpark Shoreditch, Newdlez Pad Thai – freshly fried Thai cuisine at its best, Pitstop Cafe – award-winning pan Asian food stall, Taste of Vietnam, the acclaimed The Duck Truck selling crispy duck wraps, The Everybody Love Love Jhalmuri Express – tastes of India including a roasted rice snack served in a cone and eaten with a wooden spoon, Yu Kyu – Japanese tonkatsu sandwiches, Malaysian Kitchen: Enak Enak, Churros London and Jayda’s Ices. Something for all tastes and all ages!

London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is organised as a fund-raiser with proceeds donated to nominated charities supported by London Chinatown Lions Club. There is also a raffle draw with fantastic prizes including a pair of return flights to Hong Kong courtesy of Cathay Pacific and dinner for two at Hutong at The Shard. Event sponsor, Air France has also donated 2 air tickets to raise money for the Lion Club charities.


Schedule for the day:

8.30am Team Boat Registration
10am Racing Competition Starts
12pm Entertainment Commences
12.30pm Dragon Eye-Dotting Ceremony
12.45pm Speeches
5.30pm Dragon Boat Racing Finals
5.45pm Trophies Presentation
5.55pm Raffle Draw
6.00pm Close