NEW YORK, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Dragon boat race, a traditional event deeply-rooted in China for river sacrifice, has been blossoming among the Chinese Americans as their way to preserve culture.

Right around the end of May and the start of June, the Chinese American community in Chicago announced the holding of the 18th tournament on June 23, with 32 teams in competition, the largest scale so far for the city.

The one-day event will feature traditional lion dances, kung fu performance and other cultural attractions, according to the organizer.

The Dragon Boat Festival always comes in the fifth month on the lunar calendar each year to remember an ancient poet who drowned himself in a river in defiance of the despotic power of emperor.

Dragon boat races are held each year in China's southern provinces and those in the north close to rivers and lakes.

Chinese Chicagoans remain a pioneer in adhering to such an annual ritual. This year, teams are divided into two groups, with a professional one competing for speed and the other one just for fun of celebration, the organizer said.

Chinese Americans account for more than 1 percent of the U.S. population. Dragon boat festival and race are routinely observed, especially in big cities with a large Chinese American population.

Chicago's Chinese community leader Shi Meiying told Mandarin daily The China Press that the race also serves as a platform to raise charity money for local schools and make the tradition known to Americans of Chinese descent and other communities.

There are now several hundreds of registered dragon boat crews in the United States. The match on the Hudson River in New York used to be the largest of its kind in the country, with over 500 contestants and more than 30 boats vying for glory and accolade.