The Milwaukee Chinese Community is proud to present the Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival at the beautiful Lakeshore State Park and continue the tradition of ethnic and cultural festivals in Milwaukee. The highlight of the festival will be the Dragon Boat Races.

The mission is to showcase a variety of Chinese culture and traditions. Throughout the festival, there will be performances in traditional dance, Chinese folk music, and Martial Arts. There will be hands-on opportunities for the young and young-at-heart to make opera masks and lanterns, play traditional games, participate in a dragon parade, and even learning to speak and write Chinese.

Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival Activities Timeline:

7:00AM – Team Registration & Campsite Set up

7:30AM – Team Captains Report to the Finish Line/Judge Tent for Final Instructions

8:00AM – Start Qualifying Dragon Boat Race Heats

10:00AM – Opening Ceremony – Dotting the Eye of the Dragon

10:30AM – Start Semi-Final Dragon Boat Race Heats/Cultural Performances

12:30PM – Lunch Break/Cultural Performances

01:00PM – Start Final Dragon Boat Race Heats

03:00PM – Awards Ceremony/Beer Tent Celebrations

03:30PM – Festival End

Take in a beautiful summer day by the lake front, watch teams race in dragon boats, and enjoy the cultural performances and local Asian Cuisine. The highlight of the festival will be the Dragon Boat Races – vibrant colored boats filled with men and women, working as one, racing to cross the finish line first. Not only will the visuals be pure excitement, but the sounds will be symphonic, as the oars power toward the finish, with the pounding drums and splashing water. If you have ever wondered what it is like to have twenty one people work in a team as one, and have the adrenaline rush and competitive spirit to reach the finish line or just experience paddling in a dragonboat, form a team, sign up now and join in the fun!! No experience or equipment required to race. This is the perfect place to build camaraderie among friends and fellow workers.

Admission to the festival is free.