Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival, a two-day event, returns to Hartford, Connecticut from August 16-17. The festival will be held on Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, where boat races can also be viewed.

Colorfully decorated boats powered by competitive rowers race along the Connecticut River making for an eye-catching sight. Each athlete has a story of his or her own to tell – three years ago when I covered this event I interviewed a group of women from Pennsylvania, all breast cancer survivors, who got involved in the competition to help empower themselves physically and spiritually.

Participation in the boat races is fee-based and is now closed, with 92 teams signed on. First held in 2000, the event is said to have grown from 30 teams in year one to 93 last year and 2,300 athletes.

The festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature ethnic foods, martial arts demonstrations and cultural programming, according to a press release.

The races are scheduled on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information call 860-713-3131 or go to http://www.riverfront.org/events/riverfront-dragon-boat-asian…

(Writer’s note: photos taken at the 2011 event)