YouTube artist ZHC, the online alias of Zachary Hsieh, is trading his usual canvases for a watercraft on April 25, when he will paint a full-size, 40-foot dragon boat live at this year’s Austin Dragon Boat Festival. Organizers say the finished boat will be donated and listed in a post-festival auction with an opening bid of $25,000. Festival Beach will also host races, cultural performances, and a roster of food vendors as crews from roughly 20 teams battle it out on Lady Bird Lake.
According to CultureMap Austin, Hsieh will complete the live painting at Festival Beach and donate the decommissioned craft to The Lunar Foundation for an online auction. The festival’s official site lists April 25 as the 26th annual Austin Dragon Boat Festival and names The Lunar Foundation and the Austin Asian American Cultural Center as presenting partners. CultureMap also reports that bidding on the boat will remain open through April 30, with an opening bid set at $25,000.
ZHC’s signature projects
ZHC built a massive following on bright, large-scale murals, over-the-top customizations, and cinematic reveal videos that often double as fundraisers and publicity stunts. His channel documents past charity-oriented projects, from multi-day hospital murals to custom vehicle giveaways, and organizers hope that track record will help drive interest and bids for the painted boat. Examples of his work and the scale of his projects are available on ZHC’s YouTube channel.
What to expect at Festival Beach
The festival program packs a full day. An opening ceremony will feature a traditional eye-dotting ritual, followed by cultural performances and a midday flower ceremony honoring breast cancer survivors alongside the day’s races. The official festival site highlights performances by groups such as Austin Taiko and the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team, and a vendor lineup featuring zongzi, bao, and other festival foods. Organizers expect roughly 20 teams on the water and several thousand attendees for the free, all-ages event.
Roots and community impact
The Austin Dragon Boat Festival traces its roots to the ancient legend of Qu Yuan and was founded locally in 1999 by Amy Wong Mok as a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture and community. The Lunar Foundation now helps produce the event, and festival materials list the Central Texas Food Bank among community partners and beneficiaries. Local leaders say the ZHC-painted boat and its auction are intended to spotlight AANHPI artists while raising funds for community programming…