Dragon Boat Festival races coming to Buffalo: what you need to know

Buffalo will host a dragon boat festival at Buffalo RiverWorks this weekend.

The Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival is an annual day of dragon boat racing and family activities. This year’s event will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 on the Buffalo River.

The dragon boat originated in Hong Kong almost 50 years ago, but its roots date back more than 2,000 years to China. During races, a long, narrow boat of 20 paddlers use oars to propel the boat and work alongside a beater and coxswain. In Buffalo, paddlers will race a 250-meter course.

It is a team sport that requires power, speed, timing and endurance. This year, Buffalo Festival teams represent Western New York businesses, breast cancer survivors, first responders and other community organizations.