Dragon Festival

Last weekend, the annual Dragon Festival took place at Lake Phalen in St. Paul. This free, two-day event works to bring together the Asian-Pacific community in the Twin Cities area.

The festival has grown dramatically since first being held in 1996. It now attracts some 9,000 visitors from all ethnic backgrounds. Traditional Asian culture is showcased through dance, theater, and music performances; there are also a variety of martial arts demonstrations that explore numerous Asian disciplines. Of course, the festival wouldn’t be complete without an assortment of authentic Asian food.

The Dragon Boat races are perhaps the most well-known part of the festival. These races take place out on Lake Phalen and over 20 teams participate each year. Each team is comprised of 20 people – 18 paddlers, one flag catcher, and one drummer (to keep the paddlers in rhythm). The boats themselves are quite a sight, as they’re 40 feet long and feature a dragon head on the front. Dragon boat races are a 2,400 year-old tradition in China; in Chinese culture, dragons are seen as gentle creatures that have the ability to bring rains for the harvest as well as keep people in good health.

Throughout the two days, several Office of Admissions representatives were in attendance to connect with children, students, and alumni. Check out the photos below.

-- Matt

(click images to enlarge)

Freshman admissions counselor Dan Cheng (left) entertains some visitors at the U of M table.

Freshman admissions counselors Dave Reidinger (left) and Zer Vang (right) prepare for an exciting game of "Goldy Toss."

A dragon boat team in action.