1 of 1 Photo: Getty Images
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The 44th annual Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival was held Sunday afternoon on the Charles River.
It’s the oldest dragon boat festival in North America founded in 1979.
More than 60 teams and over 1500 paddlers from all over the world took part competing in ten category groups.
Spectators along the river watched brightly colored 40-foot Hong Kong-style dragon boats race on a 500-meter course on the Charles River from the Western Avenue Bridge to the John W. Weeks Footbridge.
Among the strategies and tactics used by the teams during the races, according to one of the paddlers named Larry, there are also superstitions that are taken seriously. “Never ever touch the head of the dragon." On each of the boat’s bows is a colorful Chinese dragon head. “You touch the head, you let me know if anything bad happens to you,” he said.
Also at the race, a delegation from Hangzhou, China presented the race organizers with some cultural artifacts from the city.
WBZ’s Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok