Asia Fest & Dragon Boat Races

Dragon boat racing on Symphony Lake plus a full day of Asian food, performance and craft at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

The racing is the draw and it is genuinely worth watching. Dragon boat crews are twenty paddlers, a drummer and a steersman moving in absolute unison, and the difference between a practiced crew and a corporate team that trained for six weeks is visible from the bank.

Ticketing:

• Around $12 for adults
• Free for children 12 and under
• Free for over-65s
• Early-bird pricing has been available in past years, so book ahead if you can

Koka Booth is built into woodland around Symphony Lake, which makes it one of the best venues in the county for an event like this. The racing happens on the water in front of you and the festival occupies the lawn and surrounds.

Practical notes for a nine-hour day:

• Racing heats run through the morning, finals later
• Bring something to sit on for the lawn
• Shade is patchy. September in Cary can still be genuinely hot at midday.
• Parking at Koka Booth is on site and fills for big events

The free entry for children and older visitors makes this considerably cheaper for a multi-generation family day than the headline price suggests.

If you only want the racing, the morning heats give you the most boats on the water for the least crowd around the bank.