WATERTOWN – Watertown is making waves on the Charles River as it fields its first-ever team in the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. The “Night Herons,” a new community crew formed through the Chinese American Association of Watertown, will join over 70 other teams in a high-energy, 500-meter sprint as part of the largest Asian cultural celebration in New England.

Now in its 46th year, the Boston festival is the oldest dragon boat race in North America. Thousands are expected to gather along the banks of the Charles River on Sunday, June 8 from noon to 5 p.m., to cheer on the boats and enjoy cultural performances, food vendors, and family activities. The race course runs from the Western Avenue Bridge to the John W. Weeks Footbridge in Cambridge.

The team includes local residents, including participants from the Perkins School for the Blind, and was made possible in part by a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council, which helped cover registration costs. Many of the team members had no prior experience with dragon boating and practiced primarily on land before taking to the water in the weeks leading up to the race.

Event organizers say the Boston festival has grown exponentially, with 54 community teams now participating and club crews traveling from as far as Florida to compete. Festival-goers can also enjoy traditional Chinese drumming, Taiko performances, lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, and food from across Asia.

Admission is free and all programs are family-friendly. For more information and a full schedule, visit bostondragonboat.org.

---