After a two-year cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston) and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) co-hosted again the 2022 Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival on September 3 along the Pawtucket River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. More than 10,000 people turned out for the much-anticipated annual event. Attendees experienced the excitement of 25 teams from North America competing in the Dragon Boat Races, Dumpling Eating Contests, traditional Taiwanese arts and crafts, exciting performances, and tasty Taiwanese food. Local media outlets ABC 6, WPRI 12, The Pawtucket Times, The Valley Breeze, and Chinese media, including The Epoch and Boston Orange, all sent staff to cover the event. Woonsocket Radio, the first radio station in Rhode Island, broadcast the exciting event live.
During opening remarks, Director-General Jonathan Sun of TECO-Boston noted that this event provides the best evidence of the close Taiwan-Rhode Island relationship. He thanked BVTC President Robert Billington, his staff, local Asian Community Leaders Louis Yip and Sunny Ng for their excellent planning, as well as long-term support by the Rhode Island State Government and the City of Pawtucket. He also encouraged participants at the event to explore more about Taiwan and consider travelling to Taiwan sometime soon to explore its natural beauty.
Governor McKee addressed the large crowd noting that he had visited Taiwan twice while he was the Lieutenant Governor and formed a wonderful impression of Taiwan and its people. He also complemented the fine craftsmanship of all the hand-made dragon boats from Taiwan.
The competition in the Dragon Boat Races is fierce. The Boston Taiwanese Boat Club also competed in the event. In the end, CYPN Storm won the championship and a prize of $5,000. The winner of the dumpling eating contest won one U.S.-Taipei round-trip airline ticket donated by Eva Air.
The Rhode Island Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival are one of the few large-scale events in North America that feature "Taiwan Day" and are fully integrated with the local community. It has proven an important means to increase Taiwan's visibility and reflects the ongoing close Taiwan-U.S. relationship.
