Colorado Dragon Boat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that hosts the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF), the Colorado Dragon Film Festival, and the AAPI Emerging Leaders Program. Our Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest Dragon Boat Festival and Asian celebration in the USA.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a wonderful pan-Asian event, which exemplifies the diversity of cultures in our community. Each year, the cultural education, leadership development and team spirit continue to grow. I congratulate you for your successes in making CDBF such a wonderful celebration of diversity and community. I greatly appreciate all of the contributions you make to the Colorado community in general and to the Asian American community in particular.
Kerry Hada, Denver County Court Judge
2009 CDBF Honorary Chair
The mission of Colorado Dragon Boat is to build bridges of awareness, knowledge, and understanding between the diverse Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and the general public through cultural education, leadership development, and athletic competition.
Founded in 2001, Colorado Dragon Boat began with the creation of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) at Denver’s Sloan’s Lake Park — now recognized as Colorado’s premier multicultural, family-friendly summer celebration. What started as a one-day event with 16,000 attendees has grown into a two-day festival drawing over 200,000 people annually. The Festival showcases the rich traditions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities through performing arts, cultural demonstrations, cuisine, marketplace vendors, and competitive dragon boat racing.
Building on the success of the Festival, Colorado Dragon Boat has expanded to include three additional year-round programs:
The Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival (CDBFF), launched in 2016, is the state’s only all-Asian and Asian American film festival, highlighting the creativity and contributions of AANHPI filmmakers, directors, and storytellers. Through thoughtfully curated screenings and discussions, the festival provides a vital platform for authentic representation in cinema.
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a professional development and mentorship initiative for AANHPI young adults, ages 21–35. The program addresses barriers such as the “bamboo ceiling,” providing participants with tools, mentorship, and community connections to empower their personal and professional growth.
The Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta & Night Market brings the excitement of dragon boat racing to Riverdale Regional Park, expanding the reach of Colorado Dragon Boat into the north metro region. The event features spirited races, cultural performances, and a vibrant night market that celebrates community and culture under the stars.
Together, these programs advance our mission to celebrate, connect, and empower Colorado’s AANHPI communities through culture, storytelling, leadership, and community engagement. Each event offers opportunities for residents across the Front Range and beyond to learn about and appreciate the diverse people, traditions, and contributions of Asia and the Pacific.
Organization name
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
other names
CDBF
2001
Tax id (EIN)
84-1601703
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
3000 Youngfield Street Suite 140Jefferson County, CO, US