Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festival May 16

Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festival takes place at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, NC, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is free.

This popular annual event features the racing of colorful dragon boats by various local teams, and a cultural festival with vendor booths, performances and food stands.

Schedule

• Dragon boat races throughout the day
• 9:45 a.m.: Parade of Nations
• 11 a.m.: Festival opening ceremonies
• 11 a.m.: Opening of the cultural showcase
• 11 a.m.: Opening of the marketplace, vendor booths, food stands and food trucks
• 11:45 a.m.: “Search for the Best” of Asian Performing Arts (see below for detailed schedule)
• 1:45 p.m.: Cultural Show (see below for detailed schedule)
• 2 p.m.: Dragon Boat Race — Finals
• 4 p.m.: Awards & Trophies “Search for the Best”
• 4:30 p.m.: Dragon Boat Race Medals Ceremony
• 4:30 .m.: Street Show at the Plaza: Tae Kwan Do
• 5 p.m.: Closing Remarks

“Search for the Best” of Asian Festival Performing Arts

• 11:45 am — China – Charlotte Chinese Academy – Drunk is Spring Breeze
• 11:50 am — Hmong – Empress – A Hmong dance
• 11:54 am — Philippines – Dance Philippines of the Carolinas 2026 – Rampana O Potri
• 12:00 pm — China – Charlotte Chinese Academy – Red Lanterns
• 12:06 pm — Cambodia – Cambodian Legacy Dance Team – Blissful Lotus
• 12:09 pm — Philippines/USA – Baran Dance – Bad Kids​​​​​​​
• 12:14 pm — China – East Voyager Academy – Jasmine Flower​​​​​​​
• 12:18 pm — Hmong/Thai – Azalea Dance Group – Azalea​​​​​​​
• 12:23 pm —Taiwan – Charlotte Taiwanese American Assoc. – Hakka Flowery Umbrella Dance​​​​​​​
• 12:28 pm — Philippines – Sayaw Pilipinas – Tboli Kalipay​​​​​​​
• 12:31 pm — China – Wee Dance Company – Two Drops of Water​​​​​​​
• 12:38 pm — India – The Dance School – Bharatanatyam​​​​​​​
• 12:42 pm — Taiwan – FASCA Youth Group – The Third Prince​​​​​​​
• 12:46 pm — China – Enya Jia/Jade Davis – A Gesture Toward the Moon​​​​​​​
• 12:50 pm — Korea – The Arts Center For All – K Pop Song​​​​​​​
• 12:55 pm — School of International Language

Cultural Show

• ​​​​​​​1:45 pm — Kortea – The Arts Center for All – Hanbok Fashion Show/Singing
• 1:50 pm — China – Pacific Arts Troupe – A Poem to Praise the Plum Blosson
• 1:55 pm — China – Huayl Charlotte Dance Group – Dai Ethnic Dance – Water Town
• 2:00 pm — Laos – Laos American Outreach Society – Phon Mahaxay
• 2:10 pm — Cambodia – Cambodian Legacy Project Team – The Khmer Coconut Dance
• 2:15 pm — China – Wee Dance Academy– “Charm”
• 2:20 pm — Philippines – Sayaw Pilipinas – Pandango sa Oasiwas
• 2:25 pm — China – North Academy of World Languages Honors Dance – Upwards to the Moon
• 2:30 pm — China – Sherman, Angel, Jianming &Xuemei – New Song of the Herdsmen
• 2:35 pm — Korea – The Arts Center for All – Arirang
• 2:40 pm — China – YiDuo Dance Group – Dunhuang Dance – Tambourine
• 2:45 pm — Chinese/Korean/Fusion – T.O.P – Paint the Town
• 2:50 pm — Korea — USK Martial Arts – USK Martial Arts and Kummooyeh Sword
• 2:55 pm — China — Wee Dance Academy – “A Lovely Girl”
• 3:00 pm — Laos – Mekong Icons – Grace of the Mekong: A Lao Celebration
• 3:05 pm — Vietnam – Lien Hoa Dance Team – Vietnamese Fan Dance
• 3:10 pm — Japan – Hana Akari – Japanese Dance to traditional Song: “Luminous Flowers”
• 3:15 pm — Philippines – Devin Rinberg – “This is the Moment”
• 3:20 pm — India – Hetal Dance studio – Rajasthani Dance

Culture Showcase

• Demonstrations
• Calligraphy
• Henna Art
• Face Painting
• Games
• Wellness Booths: Taichi, Reiki, Yoga, Meditation
• Immersive cultural activities
• Children’s Arts & Crafts
• Atrium Health- Vaccinations

Parking

There’s no parking for the festival at Ramsey Creek Park. Park at 8900 North Pointe Executive Park, Huntersville, NC. The lot opens to festival visitors at 9 a.m., with free shuttle service.