The London Hong Kong Boat Festival: Drums and Dragons on Sunday 27 June

Photo credit: Catherine Yang

If the beach is not really your thing, there are still plenty of fun things to do in London today. We’ve spotted the London Hong Kong Boat Festival in the Docklands, which is starting as we speak and will go on till 5 this afternoon. It is second only to Chinese New Year in the Chinese festival calendar, so we think it sounds promising.

The boat race

30 boats, each about 30 feet long and with 16 rowers, will compete in the London Hong Kong Dragon Boat tournament, racing at least three times along a course of 200 metres. The boats with the fastest times go through to the final stage and the top three teams will receive trophies.

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Expect lots of colour and noise as the competing dragon boats each have rhythmic drumming solos.

What else is happening?

There will also be Kung Fu performances, live music and lion dancing, and your palate can be satisfied in one of the many Chinese food stalls. Children will appreciate the bouncy castle and the face painting, and creative souls can try out their calligraphy skills in the cultural stalls.

How do I combine this with the World Cup?

But what about THE GAME?, you might ask. Well don’t worry. A huge screen will be erected so you won’t have to miss the England V Germany match at 3pm. It’s a win-win!

Festival programme:

10am: Boat racing starts and stalls open
11am: Food stalls start serving
12pm: Eye-dotting ceremony and speeches
12.30pm: Stage entertainment programme starts
4.30pm: Final race
4.45pm: Trophy presentations
4.55pm: Raffle draw
5pm: Festival finishes

The festival takes place around the London Regatta Centre, Dockside Road, E16 2QT.

Nearest tube: Royal Albert DLR.
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