PHOTOS: Dragon Boat Festival
By Andrew Piper, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 26, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.
Updated July 27, 2008 at 8:14 a.m.
A winning dragonboat team's "flag man" reaches out for victory in an early race Saturday morning at the Dragon Boat Festival on Sloan's Lake.
With the chime of temple bells and the beat of ceremonial drums, the Dragon Boat Festival got underway this morning (Saturday) at Sloan's Lake.
The morning was comfortable under a high haze of clouds, but by early afternoon the sun was in full force and both the boat racers and the crowd were taking advantage of misting devices, parasols, and any other shade they could find to keep comfortable as they enjoyed food and entertainment from various Asian countries - and of course, the boat racing.
The new setting for the Festival along the northeast corner of the lake has many more shade trees within view of the race course.
Shuttle buses for people who parked at Invesco Field were running, and although the line for the buses bcak to the parking lot was long, those at the front said it moved fast and that they had had only a five-minute wait.
The streets where weekend parking was legal without a neighborhood sticker on the east side of the Sloan's Lake area, as far as Perry Street, were mostly filled up by 2 p.m.
Memebers of the "Fed Force" Dragonboat racing team - all federal employees - find a narrow sliver of shade along the side of the Sloan's Lake boathouse as they wait for their turn to race.
Joey Verbeke, left, drummer for the "Tofu Dogs" Dragon Boat race team, practices his rhythms as the team prepares to leave the dock for their race Saturday afternoon.
Buddhist monk Jian Hu of the Chung Tai temple blesses dragon boats drawn up on the shore of Sloan's Lake to officially open the Dragon Boat Festival Saturday at noon.
Members of the Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu club carry banners in a parade to open the Dragonboat Festival at Sloan's Lake Saturday July 26, 2008.
Andy Piper, Rocky Mountain News
Tim Bour, right, guides the head of a 50-foot-long dragon as it prances along the shore of Sloan's Lake as part of the opening festivities.
Andy Piper, Rocky Mountain News
The "Tofu Dogs" Dragonboat racing team gets misted to keep them cool as they wait to board their boat Saturday at the staging area by the Sloan's Lake boathouse.
Andy Piper, Rocky Mountain News
Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia paints dots on the head of a dragonboat to "wake the dragon" for racing as part of the opening festivities for the Dragon boat festival at Sloan's Lake.
Andy Piper, Rocky Mountain News
Kathy Chang, dressed in Hmong tibal finery, looks at beached dragonboats before they are blessed by a buddhist monk to officially open the Dragon Boat festival on Sloan's Lake Saturday morning.
Andy Piper, Rocky Mountain News
Dragonboats race at Sloan's Lake during the Dargonboat Festival today (Sat.) beyond a pink parasol.
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July 26, 2008
9:19 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Some of the finest things of history come from Asia, They are a great contribution to the melting pot of America. Each day, I see and enjoy the company of an old man, whose daughter brought him from Asia. She is an americanized snot, so hot, so steeped in powerful moral of character. Her father and I can't use words, but we communicate quite well on another plane. Old man and I met first under an unusual circumstance, he brought this beautiful, intelligent, americanized girl to meet me, his daughter. I thought she'd cut my heart out and serve it to me in a flavorable soup. My cigar, killed any chance I had, which allowed me to be an even closer friend to her father. He is extremely intelligent, honorable, and above all humble. Everyday, America is becoming a great place, I have forgotten her magic on so many who come here, who give a deep meaning to humanity without boarders. Seems my opinion of the world is ever evolving.
July 27, 2008
12:19 a.m.
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SL10 writes:
Louie, Great post. Btw, this year's event was excellent. ;-)
July 27, 2008
2:53 a.m.
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gwats writes:
Leaving for 'Amazing' Thailand in 90 days. This festival just whets my appetite for Asia.
July 27, 2008
6:26 a.m.
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Prisana writes:
The picture of Kathy Chang is beautiful...please read this article:
Hmong under attack:
http://media-newswire.com/release_106...
Have a great time in Amazing Thailand!
July 27, 2008
9:46 a.m.
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redwhiteandBLUE writes:
We were there yesterday. Really nice.
July 28, 2008
2:21 a.m.
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misterchinaski writes:
oh, look how racist the "tofu dogs" team is. a white guy beating the drum to make the asian rowers row. oh, the horror!!