For one afternoon, the Dragon Boat Festival became something you could taste, write, wear, create, and carry home.

On June 20, over 300 community members gathered at Glow Cultural Center—families from Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and even New Jersey—to experience one of the oldest festivals in Chinese culture. While dragon boat races often take center stage, the deeper meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival lies in family, seasonal wellness, craftsmanship, and protection rituals passed down for generations.

A Space Full of Making, Moving, and Discovering

The moment families walked in, the room felt alive with activity. At one table, children carefully traced brushstrokes in ink, writing characters like 端午 (Dragon Boat Festival) and 粽子 (zongzi) for the very first time. Right next to them, parents were busy braiding traditional five-color bracelets (五彩绳)—a summer charm meant to bring kids luck and good health.

Across the room, colorful dragons took flight during the Flying Dragon Ribbon activity as kids ran and spun through the crowd. But one of the absolute busiest spots was the “Shooting Down the Five Poisons”(射五毒) game. Inspired by the ancient custom of warding off summer pests and illness, kids and parents lined up to take aim at symbolic targets like snakes and centipedes. What started as a cultural lesson quickly turned into friendly competition and non-stop laughter.

Nearby, another traditional custom took a modern turn—forehead markings inspired by xionghuang (雄黄 realgar). Historically used for protection during the hot summer season, we reimagined the practice using safe cosmetic materials while keeping its symbolic meaning of health and blessing.

And since the festival fell on Father’s Day weekend, our photo booth was a huge hit—giving families a quick chance to pause between games and capture a memory together.

Herbs, Wellness, and a Taste of Living Tradition Full

Because the Dragon Boat Festival marks the arrival of the grueling summer heat, seasonal health is a massive part of the holiday. This year, guests explored Chinese herbal culture firsthand.

Tables were piled high with dried herbs, turning the room fragrant as participants learned about their traditional uses and stuffed their own fabric sachets to take home.

We were also honored to host Dr. Lin Heping, who provided free Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations. A steady line formed at her table all afternoon, showing just how much trust the community places in traditional healing. Dr. Lin’s clinic also generously donated the authentic herbs for our sachet station, making the whole experience feel that much more genuine.

Zongzi at the Center of It All

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Dragon Boat Festival without zongzi. Our cultural food wrapping station brought everyone together. Plenty of kids tried their hand at it for the first time, carefully folding the bamboo leaves under the patient guidance of parents and older community members.

The best part wasn’t making a perfect dumpling—it was watching different generations slow down, sit side by side, and share stories while they worked.

The Cultural Passport Journey

To make sure guests really dove into the activities, we handed out over 200 “Cultural Passports” at the door.

Each activity earned them a stamp, turning the fair into a giant scavenger hunt. Some kids raced to complete every single station, while other families lingered to ask questions, try a craft a second time, or just watch the action. By the end of the day, the passports were covered in ink, stamps, and smudges from a great afternoon.

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Community

An event like this takes a village. This celebration was made possible through the incredible collaboration of our cultural partners: Linking Acupuncture Clinic (祯灏百和堂), Hanfu NYC (纽约汉服社), and Fuyuan Incense (福愿沉香).

We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors whose continued support keeps this community programming accessible for New York families: LingoAce, AiPlus (金铭学习中心), Zeta Charter Schools, DYCD, and CACF.

At Glow Cultural Center, we believe culture isn’t something to watch from the sidelines—it’s something to experience together. This year’s fair reminded us that traditions stay alive through ink-stained hands, shared laughter, the smell of summer herbs, and the simple moments where generations connect.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We can’t wait to see you at the next one!