Thousands gather for dragon boat festival in Queens

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The 2024 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is well underway at Flushing Meadows Corona Park this weekend and athletes aren’t letting the heat get in the way.

This is the 34th year of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. 180 teams are taking part including around 2000 athletes. 

Around 40,000 thousand people are expected to be at the festival throughout the weekend.

Organizers say this year is extra special because it is the year of the dragon. 

"The dragon boat is part of the Chinese cultural traditions and the dragon boat festival is the second largest festival in Chinese culture so many people come to participate because it is the year of the dragon," said Henry Wan, chairperson of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival New York.

The festival runs until Sunday.