Dragon Boat races and festivals have an esteemed history, allegedly dating back to the Chu Kingdom when scholar Qu Yuan jumped into a river and the local fishermen rushed to save him -- beating their drums and paddles in an effort to ward off the water dragons.
Dragon Boats consist of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steer person. At the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival, more than 100 dragon boat teams race in heats on a 500-meter course off the marina on Treasure Island.
The races are at the core of the festival, but peripheral exhibits and activities include an entertainment stage as well as vendor booths, food stands, and a children's arts and crafts area known as Dragon Land.
Read more about the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival including a bit of history and the backstory on Zongzi, the traditional Dragon Boat Festival Food -- from About.com's Guide to Chinese Cuisine, Rhonda Parkinson.
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