The Dragon Festival, a colorful Asian-Pacific exposition, runs Saturday and Sunday at St. Paul’s Phalen Park, with food, dance and music of many cultures.

And watching the dragon boat races on the water is a real treat; it looks like it’s even more fun to be out there rowing and chanting in the competition. The boats practice from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and then race in earnest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Martial arts exhibitions are a big draw, too.

Admission is free and the food is reasonable. The festival is centered in the park on the west side of Lake Phalen.