Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival

Rich in tradition and Chinese Culture, Dragon Boating dates as far back as 2500 years ago. Legend says that Dragon Boating was conceived when Qu Yuan, a great poet, was exiled by the King and in great hopelessness, Qu Yuan then committed suicide on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The community was deeply saddened by his death and paddled out in search of his body; hitting the water with their paddles and beating drums. Thus a tradition was formed by creating Dragon Boat Races in his memory.