29th Annual Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Gainesville

Multicultural festival with dragon boat racing, Asian dance and music, food vendors.

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026

2026 Schedule of Events
5:30 AM – Parking Opens
6:00 AM – Venue Opens / Registrar Opens for Team Check In
6:30 AM – Off-site Parking and Shuttles Open
6:50 AM – Safety Boat Driver Meeting (base of tower)
7:00 AM – Mandatory Team Captain’s Meeting to be followed by Steerer’s Meeting (base of tower)
7:10 AM – Blessing of the Boats by Buddhist Monks – Eye Dotting and Awakening
7:30 AM – National Anthem
7:40 AM – Marshalling Opens for Heat 1
8:00 AM – Dragon Boat Races Begin
12:30 PM – Opening Ceremony Begins
1:30 PM – Finals Begin
4:00 PM – (Approx) Awards Ceremony

Location: Lake Lanier Olympic Park grandstands, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd.

Cost: Free to attend

For more info: DragonBoatAtlanta.com.

Swim Across America – Atlanta Open Water Swim 2026, Gainesville

Join us for our annual open water swim on Saturday, September 19th at Lake Lanier Olympic Park!

Whether you are a veteran swimmer or you’re looking to do your first open water swim, we welcome you to help us “Make Waves to Fight Cancer.”

.5-mile/1-mile/3-mile open water swim for teams or individuals. Event is a fundraiser for local cancer research and patient programs including Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Donations encouraged for children’s cancer medical facilities.

Date: September 19, 2026

Time: Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Mandatory Swimmer Check-in

8:10 AM – 8:40 AM: Opening Program

8:45 AM: Rolling start for the open water swims.

You can sign up to participate, join a local team, or donate through Swim Across America.

Location: Lake Lanier Olympic Park

Cost: See event link or website for details

For more info: Event Link