North Hempstead is set to launch its first-ever Dragon Boat & Lantern Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4, transforming North Hempstead Beach Park into a hub of athletic competition, cultural celebration and community pride.
The inaugural event, co-hosted by Town Council Member Christine Liu and the Ohana Paddling Association, will feature more than 30 teams competing in traditional dragon boat races — long, narrow boats adorned with dragon heads and tails, each powered by 20 paddlers who row in unison to the beat of a drum.
Dragon boat racing traces its roots back over 2,000 years in China and is tied to the legend of Qu Yuan, a revered poet and statesman who drowned himself in protest against government corruption.
Villagers raced to save him, throwing sticky rice dumplings into the river to distract the fish. This tradition evolved into modern racing and the seasonal eating of zongzi, bamboo-wrapped rice dumplings.
“This is something the community has dreamed about for years,” Liu said. “When I was elected in 2024, I promised to listen to residents — and so many asked for a Dragon Boat Festival right here in North Hempstead. With Asian Americans now making up nearly 30% of our population, it feels incredibly meaningful to bring this tradition to our town.”
Liu, who cofounded the Herricks Chinese Association and once served on Nassau County’s Asian American Advisory Council, said the event represents both a celebration of heritage and an invitation to all residents. She has even formed her own team, Team Christine, which has been training weekly at Flushing Meadows.
The festival will include three racing divisions — corporate, sports and community — ensuring opportunities for both seasoned competitors and first-time paddlers.
Beyond the races, the day-long celebration will showcase Dragon and Lion dances, live music, traditional arts and crafts, and Asian cuisine from food trucks and local vendors.
As evening approaches, the focus will shift to the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. Festivalgoers will be invited to decorate lanterns, inscribe wishes for peace, health and prosperity, and release them onto the bay in a symbolic ceremony of unity.
The effort has drawn wide support from across Long Island’s Chinese American community, with more than a dozen organizations helping organize and promote the event, including the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, the Great Neck Chinese Association, the Greater Port Washington Chinese American Association, and the Manhasset Association of Chinese Americans.
For Jason Lew, a Democratic candidate for town clerk and president of the Greater Roslyn Association for Chinese Enrichment, the festival reflects the changing face of North Hempstead.
“As a Chinese American, it’s a really great opportunity to kind of see more of the cultural diversity and kind of the things that make the Chinese culture very unique and bringing that into North Hampstead so others can experience it as well,” Lew said.
“By day, residents will cheer on thrilling boat races on the bay — something never before seen in North Hempstead,” Liu said. “And at night, lanterns will light up the water in a breathtaking display of peace and unity. It will be a day to remember.”
The Dragon Boat & Lantern Festival will be held from morning through evening on Saturday, Oct. 4, at North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
