Asian & Dragon Boat Festival Continues to Evolve
May 17 Event to Feature Expanded Vendor Area with Cultural Immersion and Wellness Booths
Recognized as one of the Southeast’s top May events, the Charlotte Asian Festival returns for its 25th anniversary on Saturday, May 17 at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman. Hosted by the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC), Charlotte Dragon Boat Association (CDBA), and local partners, the festival honors Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month with a vibrant celebration of culture, tradition, and unity.
This FREE annual family-oriented event is a celebration of Asian cultures. The festival welcomes the Asian and non-Asian community in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas.
Festival Highlights
Parade of Nations – A colorful kick-off featuring Charlotte’s Asian communities.
“The Search” for The Best of Asian Festival Performing Arts – Now in its 5th year, this juried contest, founded by Dr. Nini Bautista, showcases top-tier talent.
Marketplace & Street Food – An expanded vendor area featuring retail, cultural immersion, wellness, kids' crafts, and authentic Asian cuisine.
Dragon Boat Race – North Carolina’s largest team event marks its 20th anniversary with new race divisions.
Admission is FREE. Complimentary shuttle buses run from nearby satellite parking at 8900 North Pointe Executive Park, Huntersville, NC 28078, with extra service in the afternoon to reduce wait time. Visitors can streamline their return by having only the driver take the shuttle back to retrieve their vehicle.
The first Asian Festival was organized under the leadership of Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun in 2000 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte. The purpose of the Festival was to unite all Asian communities in the Charlotte to celebrate the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month of May. Attendance at the Festival continued to grow in the ensuing years, drawn by the colorful and diverse cultural presentations, food, and retail selections. After a few years at the then-Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Atrium, the Asian Festival moved to its current location at Ramsey Creek Park in 2006 to accommodate the new Dragon Boat Festival Race. The combined festivals continue to grow as the Carolinas’ premier Asian cultural event.
The Dragon Boat race is an exciting team competition. An important part of the Chinese traditional calendar, dragon boat racing originated over 2,300 years ago on the life-sustaining rivers of southern China.
The Charlotte Asian and Dragon Boat Festival is organized by the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Foundation for the Carolinas, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association, and Visit Lake Norman.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 am–5:00 pm (Dragon Boat team check-in begins at 7:30 am)
Cost: FREE
Ages: All ages
Location: Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius, NC (No public parking onsite during the festival)
Parking: 8900 North Pointe Executive Park, Huntersville, NC 28078. Complimentary shuttle service provided.
More information: charlottedragonboat.com
Festival Timeline
Key events in the history of the Charlotte Asian Festival
The Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce is established by Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun, Founding President.
The first Asian Festival is held on Saturday, May 6 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte, organized by Dr. Ki-Hyun and Dr. Sunny Chun, Attorney Lena Chun, Linda Yu, and Andrea Lee, to connect the Asian community and promote Asian businesses.
Dr. Nini Bautista, Vice President of the CAACC and Chair of the Asian Festival, founds the “Ms Asian Festival” to engage young, accomplished, talented Asian Americans.
The Charlotte Asian Festival moves from Marshall Park to the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Atrium with a broadening fundraising scope.
CAACC proposes its top three community-building initiatives to Crossroads Charlotte and receives strong endorsement to launch a Dragon Boat event. A Canadian national team coach is retained to advise the planning team. Ramsey Creek Park is identified as the best event site.
The Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival is launched at Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius, NC in conjunction with the relocated Charlotte Asian Festival.
CAACC Board approves the formation of the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) to continue its effort to grow the popular team-based cross-cultural activity throughout the Carolinas.
The month of May is settled on as the annual date of the Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festivals, in order to celebrate National Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
The “Ms Asian Festival” competition is expanded to “Ms Asia Carolinas”—expanding the age requirement to include younger and older candidates and representatives.
Dr. Nini Bautista founds the “Asian Music & Dance Fest” for Asian Americans of all ages. The first winner is Evan Xie, a 9-year-old piano virtuoso, who also performs his winning Bach concert at a red carpet event in Hollywood as part of his prize.
CAACC celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Charlotte Asian Festival on Saturday, May 18.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, organizers postpone the 2020 Charlotte Asian and Dragon Boat Festival to ensure public safety.
After being postponed twice by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Asian and Dragon Boat Festival returns to Ramsey Creek Park on Saturday, October 23.
In order to engage youth in promoting, preserving, and sharing their Asian cultural heritage, Dr. Nini Bautista launches “Best of Asian Festival Performing Arts” as a replacement competition for the “Asian Music & Dance Fest.”
After two consecutive festivals are held in October, the Asian and Dragon Boat Festival returns to May, with the festival taking place on Saturday, May 13.