Festival guidelines

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest pan-Asian cultural and athletic celebration between Chicago and the West Coast.

We draw over 100,000 spectators each year, who come for the wonderful variety of Performing Arts, Marketplace arts, gifts and fashions, educational displays and demonstrations, and of course, the unique and thrilling ancient sport of Dragon Boat Racing!

We want everyone to come out all weekend and stay all day. You’ll have the best time at the festival by following these simple guidelines to ensure everyone’s enjoyment and safety:

(Click to read the Festival’s Letter to the Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood with our traffic plan, map of neighborhood road closures and shuttle bus routes.)

• Park at INVESCO Field at Mile High for $5 per car, and take a FREE shuttle bus to and from the festival. Save yourself the headache of parking and help the festival be good neighbors.
• Drink plenty of fluids. If you’re feeling thirsty, immediately find shade and drink water. If you’re feeling faint, our onsite EMTs are here to help.
• Use sunscreen and wear a hat. Block out those harmful UV rays and buy a souvenir hat in our Marketplace or Festival Merchandise booth.
• Don’t go swimming or wading. It’s against the law at the lake and it’s for your own safety.
• Don’t pitch a tent or bring your grill. We’ve designed the festival with the best visibility possible and with amazing choices in food. Enjoy the shade from trees and the cuisine from our food vendors instead.
• Leave your pets at home. Our crowds are too large and the weather too hot to risk losing, injuring or stressing your precious pets at the park.
• Alcoholic beverages must be purchased and consumed onsite in the Miller/Coors Beer Garden. None may be brought onto the festival grounds. Please do not drink and drive, drink and pedal, or drink and scoot. We want you back next year!
• Smoking is not permitted within any tent, structure, or in any seating area on the festival site. The park is big, so please light up elsewhere.
• Bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates are allowed in the park but not on festival grounds. Park your bike at the bike corrals or walk.
• All packages are subject to search. Please no glass containers, large placards, fliers or signs on festival grounds. These will be confiscated.
• Please pick up after yourself. The Sloan’s Lake neighborhood is a beautiful area. Help us leave the park and surrounding areas clean by recycling your items in designated containers and using trash cans.
• Lost and Found. Please report any missing items/people, or bring found items/people, to Volunteer Headquarters near the entrance to the Taste of Asia Food Pavilion.