Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival

29th annual Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival on Pawtucket Boulevard along the Merrimack River. Free, family-friendly cultural celebration of Khmer, Thai, Laotian, Burmese, and other Southeast Asian communities. Programming includes competitive long-boat races (blessed by Buddhist monks), traditional blessing dances with elaborate costumes, music and dance performances, authentic Southeast Asian cuisine, and handcrafts. Thousands of spectators each third Saturday in August.