CHINATOWN — Thousands of people are expected show up to the 15th Annual Dragon Boat Race for Literacy to watch beautifully decorated, dragon-themed boats race down the Chicago River.
Set for an 8 a.m. launch Saturday at Ping Tom Memorial Park, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., the fundraiser will include 30 teams built by local companies and organizations. The 20-member teams — 18 paddlers, one flag catcher and one drummer — will race in ornately decorated dragon boats.
The race works like this: The 18 paddlers, each equipped with an oar, row to the beat of the drummer. It's the flag catcher's job to pull a flag bobbing in the water at the finish line. The top two winning teams later race in a championship.
The teams raised money to enter the race, and all their proceeds will go to local literacy groups.
Hosted by the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, the Chinatown Community Foundation and many other city institutions, the event will offer food, kids' activities, a scavenger hunt and a concert by VanderCook College.
A free trolley will take visitors from Pink Tom Memorial Park down Wentworth Avenue and back to the park from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Visitors should take public transportation, because public parking will be limited. You can access Chinatown with the CTA Red Line and Chicago Water Taxi.
For more information, contact the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce at 312-326-5320 or visit www.chicagochinatown.org.
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