Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

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Impact Statement

The 2009 festival continued to build on past success, attracting 100,000+ attendees to this free annual event to experience an array of performers, cultures and cuisine including the celebration of Hawaii's 50th anniversary of statehood. The two-day competitive dragon boat races included 44 teams (three from out of state - AZ, FL, TX) competing for four divisional championships on two different race courses (250 and 500 meters). Mild weather, maximum media coverage and expansion of alternative "green" transportation options for the public to reach the festival combined to create the most enjoyable festival yet based on exit surveys and subsequent feedback.

Needs Statement

As the Festival transitions from an all volunteer seasonal operation to a staffed year-round nonprofit organization, the following are goals we are addressing this year and next:
1. Board member recruitment, capacity building
2. Individual donations, year-round giving
3. Volunteer recruitment and retention
4. Corporate sponsorships and Asian Pacific marketing
5. Community leadership and mentoring of young people

Background Statement

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF), established in 2001, occurs annually in Denver's Sloan's Lake Park and has become Colorado’s premier multicultural, family-oriented summer festival. The festival attracted over 100,000 attendees in 2009, a 600% increase over the 15,000 people who attended the first year. Originally a one-day outdoor event, the CDBF has grown into a two-day weekend event offering free culturally diverse programming to highlight and celebrate Asian/Pacific performing arts and crafts, cultural customs and cuisine, and competitive dragon boat racing.

The three major components of the Festival - cultural programs and performances, dragon boat races and the marketplace - provide a fun, interactive environment for all ages. Four specific cultural educational programs: Dragonland (hands-on activities for children and families), Gateway to Asia (demonstrations of Asian Pacific customs and practices), Explore Asia (showcasing specific Asian Pacific cultures) and Cultural Unity (hip-hop fusion) provide additional, in-depth learning experiences for festival attendees at no cost. Residents of Colorado's Front Range communities, the state and beyond continue to have opportunities to be educated and entertained about the diverse people, places, and practices of Asia and the Pacific as the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary year in 2010.

Executive Director Statement

Few events in Colorado or the country combine as many elements as the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF). It is a sports competition with corporate and community teams. It is an ethnic celebration of Colorado's rich Pan Asian American heritage. It is cultural showcase of diverse Asian cuisine and performing artists. It is a marketplace of unique and hard-to-find arts, crafts and vendors more likely to be found in the markets of Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok or Beijing.

CDBF creates a “unique cultural experience” for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, presentation, and exhibition of art, music, dance, and sports competition. It celebrates the diversity of Coloradoans and provides residents and visitors alike the chance to sample the tastes, talents and traditions of Asian Pacific Americans, all within a safe, convenient and fully-accessible outdoor setting.

This type of large, multidisciplinary, community event requires year-round preparation and sufficient resources. Individual donations, along with annual grants, sponsorships and festival sales, help to subsidize the annual cost of presenting this unique two-day outdoor community event to the public and insures the festival remains free, fun and full of experiences that cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

Board Chair/President Statement

Welcome! Since its inception in 2001, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) has been the most recognized Asian Pacific American cultural event in the Rocky Mountain region. The festival is a free annual family event showcasing traditional and contemporary performing arts, cultural customs, cuisine, arts and crafts, all happening while teams of racers paddle their dragon boats across the finish line. Among its many honors, CDBF has been described as “One of Colorado’s greatest festivals…” As you may know, it takes a tremendous amount of resources, both in volunteers and donations, to put on a festival for 100,000 people and invite the public to attend for free. Any gift you can give is greatly appreciated. Your contribution will significantly help CDBF share the richness and diversity of the Asian Pacific American culture with Colorado residents.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a wonderful Pan-Asian event, which exemplifies the diversity of cultures in our community. Each year, the cultural education, leadership development and team spirit continue to grow. I congratulate you for your successes in making CDBF such a wonderful celebration of diversity and community. I greatly appreciate all of the contributions you make to the Colorado community in general and to the Asian American community in particular.

Kerry Hada, Denver County Court Judge
2009 CDBF Honorary Chair