The Annual Charlotte Asian Festival is an annual family-oriented event for the Asian and non-Asian community in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas. The festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history. The Annual Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival Race is an exciting team competition. An important part of the Chinese traditional calendar, dragon boat racing originated over 2,300 years ago on the life-sustaining rivers of southern China. The Charlotte race is an open competition to anyone 15 years of age or older. The Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival Race are organized by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association.