Dragon Fest, NYC’s first and largest outdoor Chinese food and culture festival, is gearing up once again to delight New Yorkers’ taste buds from spring through fall. The beloved food festival returns for the season this weekend on Sunday, April 13th, and it’s doing so with a fabulous twist!
Each year the event continues to grow–two years ago it took place over four dates and last year it extended to six dynamic dates across Manhattan and Queens, drawing in over half a million attendees. And this year, four extra dates will be tacked onto the schedule, known as Panda Days, making for 10 days of festivities. Here are all the deets:
What is Dragon Fest?
Dragon Fest features over 100 varieties of Chinese cuisine, offering a taste of everything from soup dumplings and dragon’s beard candy, to lotus root sandwiches and grilled cold noodles. But on the four dedicated Panda Days, attendees can enjoy a fully immersive experience complete with the following:
- Panda-themed treats: including Shaved Ice by Dragon Lulu, Candied Hawthorn by 80’s Rabbit, and Panda Boba Tea by Master Panda
- Exclusive merchandise
- Photo-ops: including a towering 13-foot inflatable panda centerpiece and a panda archway entrance
Dragon Fest is about more than just the food, though–aspiring to introduce more Chinese brands into the American market, the festival also features experiential activities, music, art, and cultural traditions from China. Festival goers can even peruse Han-style clothing, Miao embroidery, and jewelry.
Where and when is Dragon Fest?
This season, Dragon Fest NYC will take place across ten different dates at various locations. The schedule can be seen below.
Dragon Fest 2025 Schedule:
- 4/13/25 – Astor Pl (Panda Day)
- 4/20/25 – 6th Avenue, 30th-31st Street
- 5/10/25 – 6th Avenue, 30th-31st Street
- 5/24/25 – Astor Pl (Panda Day)
- 7/20/25 – 7th Avenue, 56th-57th Street (Panda Day)
- 8/16/25 – Queens Blvd-Forest Hills (Panda Day)
- 9/20/25 – Broadway, 113th-114th Street
- 10/4/25 – 4th Avenue, 12th-13th Street
- 10/5/25 – 6th Avenue, 31st-32nd Street
- 10/12/25 – Broadway, 81st-82nd Street W
What time does Dragon Fest start?
Though start times can vary by date, the festival typically runs from 10 am through 6 pm.
Biubiu Xu, Founder of Dragon Fest, stated:
We’re bringing back Dragon Fest for 2025 because we’ve seen a growing appreciation for Chinese food and culture over the past few years. What started as a local celebration in New York City has now expanded to other cities like Philadelphia and Atlanta— but NYC will always be our home, where Dragon Fest was born. The energy, diversity, and enthusiasm here are unmatched. We’re beyond excited to return with our biggest festival yet, and to welcome everyone to what has become the city’s largest and most vibrant celebration of authentic Chinese cuisine, arts, and traditions.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of Chinese food or a first-time visitor eager to explore the culture, Dragon Fest is a full-sensory journey through one of the world’s oldest cultures, offering something for everyone.
The best part: the food fest is free and open to the public (though attendees are encouraged to RSVP online). To RSVP or learn more about the full schedule, vendors, and highlights, visit Dragon Fest’s website.
🗓️ Various dates, April through October
📍 Various locations