The City of Dallas announced on May 13 that it will host the third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake. The event coincides with National AAPI Heritage Month and aims to highlight the cultural, artistic, and historical contributions of North Texas residents of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.
Organizers say the festival is important for recognizing the diverse backgrounds within Dallas’s AAPI community. The celebration includes dragon boat races, performances, workshops, food vendors, merchandise stalls, and a visual arts exhibition representing regions such as East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
This year’s festival will introduce the Breast Cancer Survivor Cup for the first time—a new race format presented by Dallas United Crew (DUC) with sponsorship from Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern. Organizers said this competition connects ancient dragon boat traditions with modern breast cancer rehabilitation efforts. DUC and Simmons Cancer Center will also hold a cancer awareness ceremony during the program.
The event is organized in partnership with groups including Dallas Office of Arts & Culture; Dallas Parks & Recreation; Dallas Police Department; Code Compliance Services; City of Dallas Asian American Employees Association; and National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Dignitaries from both city government and local AAPI communities are expected to attend alongside representatives from sponsors such as Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern, Dallas Mavericks, and 99 Ranch Market.
Dragon boat races will feature corporate teams as well as community divisions. There will also be an open group called “Motley Crew” for those interested in learning about dragon boating or joining a team on race day.
More information about the festival can be found at dallasculture.org/aagi-heritage-dragon-boatfestival.
