By Cameron Lee
May 1, 2025
Dr. John Chen, chairman of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) and founder of the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association, has called Charlotte home since the early ’90s — back when there were very few Asian-owned businesses in the city. Dr. Eumelia “Nini” Bautista, Chairman Emeritus of the CAACC and a former Nuclear Safeguards Inspector at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, moved to the Queen City in 1999.
Both Dr. Chen and Dr. Nini — recipients of Charlotte’s Global Leader Award, which honors distinguished members of the city’s international communities — are guardian-like figures in Charlotte’s Asian circles. For decades, they have worked to showcase, educate, and unify ethnic groups across the city, helping to create a vital junction point for Charlotte’s growing Asian population.
“AAPI communities usually exist in separate silos. In a big metro area, you have Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, and so on. In Charlotte, because it’s so spread out, you really don’t have cultural hubs,” Chen said.
The Birth of Charlotte’s Asian Festival
Dr. Nini and Dr. Chen contributed as writers for the Asian Herald, a publication founded by Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun, who also established the CAACC in 1999. Over the years, their efforts have extended far beyond print journalism.
In 2000, they both attended the chamber’s flagship event: the Asian Festival at Marshall Park. Initially a modest gathering — primarily featuring Korean, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese communities — it mainly consisted of raffles and vendors, with limited entertainment value. In 2003, Dr. Nini changed that by introducing the Ms. Asian Festival competition (later renamed Ms. Asia Carolinas) to spotlight talented young women who demonstrated cultural pride and leadership.
“It was not based on beauty only,” Dr. Nini said. “It was their community involvement, their talents, and their advocacy of their culture. That’s how they became prouder and more aware of who they were.”
The festival moved to the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Atrium in 2004, then to Ramsey Creek Park in 2006, where it partnered with the newly formed Charlotte Dragon Boat Association, which Dr. Chen founded. What began with 18 teams on Lake Norman has since grown into one of the Southeast’s largest dragon boat racing events — now featuring over 40 teams and more than 1,200 paddlers.
Ancient Tradition, Modern Unity
Dragon boat racing dates back over 2,300 years and commemorates the Chinese folk hero Qu Yuan, a poet and minister exiled for opposing corruption. The Duānwǔ Festival, held annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, promotes cultural unity and is believed to ward off bad luck. Traditionally, it is celebrated with dragon boat races and zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), both of which are staples at Charlotte’s festival.
Today, the Asian Festival and Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival are among the Carolinas’ largest Asian cultural gatherings. Attendees enjoy live performances, martial arts demonstrations, a cultural parade, traditional arts and crafts, wellness booths, immersive educational activities, interactive games, a local marketplace, and the Best of Asian Festival Performing Arts — a juried talent show created by Dr. Nini.
It’s a celebration of culture and a centuries-old sport, where visitors can sip boba tea or sugarcane juice while savoring traditional cuisine from Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and beyond.
“You absorb some of the culture, and there is also an interchange of culture,” Dr. Nini said.
Powered by Community
Though the festival is free to attend (including parking and shuttle transportation) it generates funding through vendor sales, race registrations, sponsorships, and donations. These proceeds fuel CAACC’s year-round programming, including outreach initiatives, business seminars, and networking events recognizing community leadership.
“One evolving and continuous aim for us, as we lift up the entire community, is this: the festival is a tremendous venue to train leadership,” Chen said.
Under the direction of CAACC President Ann Gonzales, new community organizers are emerging — many mentored by Dr. Chen and Dr. Nini. Among them are Yann Ki-Ny, president of the Cambodian Association of Charlotte; Kim Lam, a CAACC administrator and small business seminar coordinator; Monica Kweman, founder of the Manera Foundation; and Levi Rmah, a mental health advocate and workforce program leader for Charlotte’s Montagnard community.
Rmah, a current UNC Charlotte student, credits the CAACC and Dragon Boat Festival for shaping his vision for a nonprofit that helps Montagnards (indigenous peoples from Vietnam’s Central Highlands) acquire job skills.
“I think my draw was workforce development,” Rmah said. “Through the CAACC, I got a better understanding of the Charlotte ecosystem. How do nonprofits work? How do people start initiatives and serve their community? I have great mentors in Ann, Kim, Yann, Dr. Chen, and Dr. Nini.”
A Lasting Legacy
Few traditions in Charlotte have lasted more than two decades, but the Asian & Dragon Boat Festival has become a beloved institution — serving as a crossroads for one of the city’s fastest-growing demographics. It’s more than an event; it’s a celebration of identity, heritage, mentorship, and community.
“We want to embrace more people from the community to enjoy this — enjoy the sport, enjoy the festival, and beyond,” Chen said. “As long as we continue to attract good talent and leaders, I think the festival is going to evolve in the right direction.”
For Dr. Nini, the path forward is clear: unity is the key to impact.
“I think we are really starting to unify the AAPI community, and we want to raise our voices so that we can participate more actively in community decision-making,” she said. “We want to preserve, enhance, and propagate our venerable Asian cultural heritage — especially for future generations — and rekindle a love for traditions we may have inadvertently left behind in our motherlands.”
The Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival takes place Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ramsey Creek Park, and it’s free to the public. Check out the full schedule of events, info on parking/shuttles, and the official venue map.
To learn more about the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, you can visit their official website here.
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