Dragon Boats: Shaped like a canoe, they are 40 feet long and 3.5 feet at their widest point. Boats are crewed by a team of 22, with 20 paddlers, a drummer and someone who steers. The Fouth Annual Charlotte Dragon Boat and the Annual Asian Festival is a way for the Asian community to thank the country that has welcomed them over the years, says Dr. John Chen, founder of the event. Set for Saturday, May 15th at Ramsey Creek Park, Lake Norman, the festival and Dragon Boat races draw between 7000 and 10000 people. Dragon Boat racing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Festival races are sprint events usually on the order of 500 meters. The sport is big: Major festivals are held in New York City, Philadelphia and Portland, Or. The Cornelius festival actually began in Charlotte at Marshall Park. It features stage performances of traditional dances from various Asian Countries, the Miss Asian Festival Scholarship talent competition, regional exhibits to ethnic foods and merchandise. Admission is free. For the first time, Charlotte is fielding its own teams, including four cancer survivors. More details at
www.charlottedragonboat.com.