Dragon Boat Festival this Weekend in Foster City

Most everyone is familiar with Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday on the Chinese calendar each year.

What about the second biggest? It's Dragon Boat Festival Day, and it's coming to Foster City this Sunday.

What's a dragon boat, you ask? It is a 22-person canoe, and locals can check them out, go for a ride in one and watch teams race in them at the festival this Sunday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at , 650 Shell Blvd. at E. Hillsdale.

Try a ride or take a lesson in a dragon boat during the event, and you're treated to a free hot dog and drink. There will also be entertainment such as the walking-on-water-balls challenge, and music and dancing from lions and dragons.

One of the main hosts of the event is the Bay Area Dragons dragon boat racing team, or BAD for short. 

BAD is a nonprofit organization run completely by volunteers, and boasts membership by some of the most experienced dragon boat racers from all over northern California. The team has competed all over the world, representing the local area in countries such as Germany, Rome and Malaysia.

BAD regularly practices at , and in fact, offers free lessons there to anyone interested in trying out the sport, every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Check out a video of BAD in action with this article.

For more information about Sunday's Dragon Boat Festival Day or the Bay Area Dragons team, call 650-918-6881, e-mail info@bayareadragons.org or visit bayareadragons.org.

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