It's the Japanese version of "Saturday Night Fever": Join us for traditional dances on Sat. July 30 during the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival! The Obon, or Bon Odori, dances will be led by the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple's Minyo Kai dance group -- it's like Japanese line dancing, only in a circle. The Minyo Kai group will dance in the center circle, and everyone else dances in concentric circles, watching the Minyo Kai members and copying every move.
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It's a fun way to end the first day of the festival! Read more about the Obon Dance.

Get some extra props when you gather 15 or more friends family and co-workers together to join you as a team of volunteers at CDBF 2011! We'll assign you together if possible (though it's not guaranteed), and we'll give you extra shout outs in the program book and on our website!

​Join the CDBF family and volunteer this year!

We're proud to introduce a brand-new feature for the 2011 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival: The imaginAsian Mural Collaboration. We're partnering with four groups of artists who'll be working all during the festival on mural panels with the public's input.

The common theme for all the artwork will be "Ode to Japan," and one project needs suggestions from the public BEFORE the festival, to decide what images to include in the artwork. Just send us what you think a mural about Japan should include!

Another piece needs items from you that can be attached to a 3D mural made of chicken wire, crochet, origami, notes, knickknacks, whatever. You can bring them to the festival to add to the artwork, or make origami to attach at the Dragonland kids' area during the festival.

A third piece will let spectators add some spray paint to urban graffiti art, and the last is a cooperative of talented Denver-based comic book artists who will work on their mural while you watch.

​Read more about the imaginAsian Mural Collaboration!

Congratulations to Fort Collins artist Shawn Mingjiang Xiong, whose design captured the spirit of the 2011 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, and made him the winner of this year's Community Design Competition. His design, which combines the cross-cultural elements of both traditional Chinese paper-cutting and the "wanted" posters of the American Old West.

Shawn won a $300 prize and his design will be used for this year's promotional poster and on other commemorative merchandise; you'll be able to meet Shawn and purchase an autographed souvenir poster at the festival

​You can read what Shawn has to say about his art, and see the two runners-up designs and the artists' statements.

Gateway to Asia was created to educate not only the general public but Asians about our own diverse and thriving local communities. Gateway to Asia features more intimate performances than the Main Stage, where audience members can get up close and personal with performers.

For 2011, we’ll feature the rich customs and history of Japan, with organizations representing the country on hand to welcome you to a virtual visit.

​Read the full list of Gateway to Asia 2011 performers and demonstrators.

We're proud to announce the lineup for the 2011 Cultural Unity Stage, one of the hottest areas of the festival every year.

This year's performers run the range from BBoys (and girls) spinning all weekend, DJs showing their skill at the turntables, spoken word performances, and some extra sauce from martial arts groups and drumming from both Japan and West Africa. Bring your dancing shoes, and feel free to join in the ciphers if you feel up to the challenge of face-to-face breakdancing competitions.

​Check out the Cultural Unity lineup -- we'll be posting performance schedules soon!

The judges have chosen a winner for the 2013 CDBF Image Contest: Nicole Aubol of Greeley!
Nicole is a Greeley-based graphic design student who incorporated traditional Asian style and design motifs into her entry.

Shopping in the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival Marketplace every year is like shopping at a dream bazaar with merchants from every corner of Asia and the Pacific (and beyond).
You’ll always find a fascinating array of gifts, art, home decorating items, jewelry, fashion and fun toys for kids of all ages, all with the ethnic emphasis that makes CDBF unique among summertime festivals. You'll also find worthy non-profit organizations that deserve your support, and oh yes, you can buy cool CDBF merchandise while you're there, and support the festival!
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Click to see the full list of 2011 Marketplace vendors.