Dragon Boat "Awakened" In Times Square

Community leaders, Buddhist monks and martial artists gathered in Times Square today to bless a Dragon Boat for the upcoming Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Queens.  180 teams from across the U.S. and Canada will come to New York to race in these 20-man boats, which are colorfully fashioned with both a dragon head and tail. 

Event Chairman Henry Wong says people should come out to the event for one simple reason, it's "one of the most exciting events on the summer calender for New York City"

The festival takes place in Queens August 10th and 11th.  It's the city's 23rd annual dragon boat race celebrating a 2-thousand year old Chinese tradition.