‘Discover Queens’ during month of August

A dumpling-eating contest, free Mets tickets, three-course meals and the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament is just a taste of what Queens has to offer its residents and visitors this August.
Borough President Helen Marshall, Vice President of the Mets Dave Howard, and Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation Spencer Ferdinand, joined to arrange the “Discover Queens” campaign, a “smorgasbord” of events to entertain Queens residents during the hot summer days.
“Discover Queens” promotes a broad scope of events from culturally driven ones like the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and the Chili Crab Festival to more time-honored events like Mets games.
“How do you like that slogan, discover Queens and see the world,” asked Marshall telling members of the borough to leave their passports behind as they journey to the Far East.
The kickoff and main event is the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on August 4 and 5 in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is an historic Chinese event brought to the shores of Queens and will to be viewed by at least 10,000 people.
Competing teams of 20 crewmembers will paddle traditionally narrow 35-foot-long dragon-shaped boats to the beat of Chinese drums. This is the 17th annual dragon boat race that will be held rain or shine, according to Henry Wan, Chairman of The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.
“There will be plenty of freebees,” said Wan as he listed the event’s primary sponsor Citibank, which will be giving away free Mets tickets every hour and during the dumpling-eating contest.
The development corporation also organized for over 100 restaurants in Queens to feature three-course prix fixe meals Monday through Saturday for $20.07. There will be a Latino Cultural Festival on August 5, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, featuring dance artists and food. Lastly, August in Queens ends with a bang, according to Marshall, with the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament on August 27 to September 9.
Marshall emphasized the new express train to Shea Stadium running two hours before Mets games from Manhattan to Queens and one hour after games to facilitate the commute for those cashing in on their free tickets.