Ding-wen Hsu hoped the first Colorado Dragon Boat Festival back in 2001 would draw 3,000 Denverites curious about their Asian neighbors.

Instead, the festival’s co-founder watched as roughly 15,000 showed up.

Now, the two-day event routinely attracts upward of 100,000 people to Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver. This year, the Asian country in the spotlight could really use the attention, though the event’s steering committee chose Japan before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 23,000 Japanese citizens dead or missing.

Erin Yoshimura, executive director of the festival, says visitors will see the traditional Japanese Obon Dance at 6 p.m. Saturday for the first time this year.

The dance commemorates those who have died. The Denver Buddhist Temple Minyo Kai dance group will lead the program, wearing summer kimonos and hapi coats. Attendees can join in no matter their garb or experience levels.

“It’s line dancing in a circle,” Yoshimura says.

Another Japanese-themed attraction is the ImaginAsian Mural Collaboration, which invites the public to share their impressions of the Japanese culture. Artists will take those ideas and sketch them onto the mural boards; attendees will put the finishing artistic touches on other murals.

A disaster-relief donation box will allow people to help those still suffering from the earthquake’s repercussions.

The festival committee has tried to anticipate crowd-related issues as the event grows.

This year, the Taste of Asia food court will be laid out to give those in line a little more personal space. The event also is expanding to the southwest side of the park for similar reasons.

A free shuttle service at Invesco Field’s Lot G along Federal Boulevard will transport guests to the event for a $5 parking fee.

First-timers should print out a Passport to Asia from the festival’s website before arriving. Guests who collect all seven passport stamps will get a chance into a prize drawing for an iPad 2.

If the heat becomes too much, there’s an on-site misting tent in which to cool off.

The main event for many folks will be the dragon boat races, pitting sleek, Hong Kong-style craft versus Taiwanese flag-catching boats. The Chinese sport, which dates back more than 2,000 years, will feature 51 teams, including a squad of seniors from Portland, Ore., whose oldest member is 94.

This year’s race also will include a team from Toronto, making it the first international race.

Hsu, co-founder of the annual festival, says the nature of many Asian cultures provides challenges for those who would share them with others.

“We’re a very quiet community and humble. We tend not to want to get attention,” Hsu says.

Cultural pride

Hsu says the annual festival carries a second personal mission for her. She understands some young Asian-Americans would rather assimilate than celebrate their cultural differences. Recent festivals have included hip-hop music and other youth-oriented programs.

“The event is an opportunity for young people to recognize that they can be proud of their culture. That’s why we put so much educational elements into the festival.”

Festival attendees will be able to taste a variety of pan- Asian food. Less adventurous souls can fall back on old favorites, including hot dogs, brat- wursts, funnel cakes and pizza.

And other options abound should the food lines grow too long.

Claire Walter, author and food blogger at Culinary- Colorado.com, suggests ChoLon in LoDo for a blast of delicious Asian cuisine.

Or mosey up and down nearby Federal Boulevard and give an unassuming Asian restaurant a try. “What have you got to lose?” Walter says.

Those willing to leave the city should consider Newport Chinese Cuisine in Broomfield for dim sum that even a discerning New Yorker would embrace, she says.

Hsu says the festival conducts surveys each year to learn more about the makeup of the large crowds.

“Every year, we have more than 80 percent of the attendants (who) are non-Asian. It’s not an Asian festival anymore. That’s the thing I’m most proud of,” Hsu says.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL. Sloan’s Lake Park, West 25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. Free. 10 a.m-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. cdbf.org