SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF ASIAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION IN PAWTUCKET
PAWTUCKET – The 25th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival will take place Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, at Festival Pier in Pawtucket, RI. The event is free to attend though donations are being accepted at the gate to support the future of the festival.
Rhode Island’s dragon boat races are unique because they use custom-built colorful fiberglass Taiwanese-style dragon boats gifted from the Republic of China (Taiwan) and incorporate the skill of flag-catching in each race. The course length is 200 meters long on the Pawtucket River, with three boats racing at a time. Spectators are invited to bring a chair to line the river and fill the grandstand to watch these riveting sprint races. Both organized club teams from around the northeast and community-based teams compete in the races.
“This event has always been about bringing attention to our rivers in a fun and exciting way,” says Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Executive Director, James Toomey.
In addition to the Dragon Boat Races, Festival Pier will offer the family-friendly Taiwan Day Festival showcasing Asian culture. Rhode Island Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club will kick off the opening ceremony under the big tent. Grammy Award-nominated, Ten Drum Art Percussion Group from Southern Taiwan will be the featured performance.
“Ten Drum was the first international act to perform at the Taiwan Day Festival back in 2005 and it’s an honor to welcome them back for the 25th Anniversary Celebration,” states James Toomey. Ten Drum will be performing as “Cross Metal Band,” an original music project that blends modern rock with powerful drumming to create a fusion style that is both innovative and inspiring. Truly a show not to be missed.
Amanda Wood, event director for all 25 years, adds “I’m very proud of how we respected the culture and worked hard to make this event grow from under a hundred attendees the first year to the many thousands we now welcome.”
The festival also has a great selection of Asian food trucks, vendors, and interactive activities for children and families.
Also featured is the extremely popular Chinese Dumpling Eating Contest. Contestants can sign up the day of the event at the registration tent at the entrance of the festival for a chance to win prizes in both male and female divisions.
This signature day-long event along the Pawtucket River is presented by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and sponsored by Luke Charitable Foundation, Quality Rental, City of Pawtucket, Taiwan Economic & Cultural Office, Hello Taiwan, Eink, Phantom Farms Brewing, Coastal1 Credit Union, and Renewal by Andersen.
Once again, organizers of the festival have partnered with Phantom Farms Brewing to create a limited-edition dragon boat beer for this year as a prize for the winner of each dragon boat race. “Paddles Up” is an easygoing lager brewed for warm days on the water with a light malt sweetness. It will be exclusively available in their taproom with a beer launch event on August 15 from 1 – 3 PM at Phantom Farms Brewing, 30 Martin Street, Cumberland. This launch event will feature retrospective photos and videos over the last 25 years of dragon boating in Rhode Island, photo opportunities, a chance to interact with high-level dragon boat teams, and food vendors.
More information about this unique event can be found at dragonboatri.com
