9th Annual Pacific Islander Festival – Long Beach, 6/2/12-6/3/12

“Discover the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands through traditional craft and implement demonstrations, ethnic cuisine, educational programs, and an ocean of entertainment, including music and dance performances. Watch hula performances, listen to Tahitian drumming, try out ancient Hawaiian games, enjoy island cuisine, and admire artisans as they create traditional weavings. The ninth annual Pacific Islander Festival will feature various cultures, including Hawaiian, Marshallese, Chamoru, Tahitian, Samoan, Tokelauan, Maori, and Tongan. On Saturday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m., the Aquarium will honor Tongans Steven and Lita Fifita with the Heritage Award for their outstanding community service to Pacific Islanders.”

• WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific
  100 Aquarium Way
  Long Beach, CA 90802
• WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 6/2/12-6/3/12, 9am-5pm
• HOW MUCH: Included with general admission to guests. See http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/visit/prices_hours for prices. Free to Aquarium members; 20% off for their guests.
• MORE INFO:http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/pacific_islander_festival/
  (562) 590-3100, ext. 0

Year of the Dragon Celebration at Asian Art Museum – SF, 2/5/12

“Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon with students of the Chinese American International School (CAIS) presenting Chinese classical music and dances from Chinese ethnic minorities, ending with a playful lion dance arranged by the students. The lion dance is an important part of every New Year celebration and is believed to scare away evil spirits and ensure a bright new beginning. Hunt for dragons in the galleries; listen to dragon stories; make a dragon paper cut, a Year of the Dragon button to wear, or rub on a temporary tattoo featuring the animals from the museum’s collection.”

• WHERE: Asian Art Museum
  200 Larkin Street • San Francisco, CA 94102
• WHEN: Sunday, 2/5/12, 11am-4pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!!!
• MORE INFO: http://www.asianart.org/family.htm#special

Redwood City Lunar New Year Celebration – Redwood City, 2/4/12

“Join us for this Asian celebration of change and the Year of the Dragon! Lion Dancers, Red Panda Acrobats, Martial Arts, Kids Arts & Zodiac Themed Crafts, Food, Inflatable Playland & More! FREE!

The San Mateo County Historical Museum program will include:

* Free Admission to the History Museum (All day) Children’s Crafts in the Rotunda will include activities such as a miniature dragon kites and lucky red envelopes,
* Listen to the Erhu – traditional Chinese version of the violin, performed by Ms. Mei Xuan, an Erhu virtuoso
* Short talk given by Mr. Nan Su, New Tang Dynasty TV (Channel 32) news commentator.
* Chinese Classical Arts presentation”

• WHERE: Courthouse Square
  2200 Broadway St. Redwood City, CA
• WHEN: Saturday, 2/4/12, 11am-4pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!
• MORE INFO: http://www.redwoodcity.org/events/lunarnewyear.html

San Jose Museum of Art Lunar New Year Community Day – San Jose, 2/4/12

“The powerful dragon, the only mythical animal in the Chinese zodiac, is associated with honesty, bravery, innovation, and ambition. Our popular family-friendly event takes a modern approach to traditional multicultural customs.

Welcome in the lucky Year of the Dragon and enjoy:

* Free admission all day
* Traditional Lion Dance by Rising Phoenix Lion Dance Association
* Dance performance by Sukyung Choi’s Korean Dance Academy
* Cultural crafts, hands-on activities, family fun, and more!”

• WHERE: San Jose Museum of Art
  110 South Market Street
  San Jose, CA 95113
• WHEN: Saturday, 2/4/12, 11am-5pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!!!
• MORE INFO: http://www.sanjosemuseumofart.org/event/community-day-lunar-new-year-feb-4

OACC Lunar New Year Festival – 2/4/12, Oakland

“Join Oakland Asian Cultural Center as we celebrate the Year of the Dragon with cultural performances, arts & crafts for the kids and workshops for the whole family! This event is FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Make a Japanese Paper Doll, create a Year of the Dragon Mask, build a Korean kite and more! Your youth will get a fun, hands-on experience on how various Asian cultures celebrate and ring in the Lunar New Year!

A showcasing of Oakland Asian Cultural Center’s amazing students and teaching artists! Featuring cultural music, dance and martial arts of China, Japan, Philippines, India, Korea, Okinawa, and Mongolia!”

• WHERE: Oakland Asian Cultural Center
  388 Ninth Street, Suite 290, Oakland, CA
  (2nd Floor of the Pacific Renaissance Plaza)
• WHEN: Saturday, 2/4/12, 11am-4:30pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!
• MORE INFO: http://www.oacc.cc/programs/festivals-events/lunarnewyearfestival.html

OMCA Lunar New Year Celebration and Other Asian Traditions – 1/29/12, Oakland

“OMCA ‘s 11th annual Lunar New Year Celebration and Other Asian Traditions: Year of the Dragon features a full afternoon of celebration, festivities, performances, demonstrations, and workshops that include elements of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Tibetan, and other Asian cultures .

Treat the whole family to a fun, fortune-filled family event to welcome The Year of the Dragon. The celebration gets off to a roaring start with a lion dance. The day is filled with music and dance; performances by the Red Panda Acrobats and Cambodian rapper RJ Sin; magicians and Japanese mochi pounding; storytelling; Chinese-opera face painting; a demonstration of making a Tibetan prayer flag (and the chance to make one to take home); hands-on family activities; demonstrations of Asian cooking; a reading and book signing by Oliver Chin of his new book Year of the Dragon; and so much more. Plus a rousing end to the day with a Dragon dance!

Included with Museum admission. Free to OMCA Members.”

• WHERE: Oakland Museum of California
  1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607
• WHEN: Sunday, 1/29/12, 12pm-4:30pm
• HOW MUCH: Museum admission; see http://museumca.org/hours+and+pricing
• MORE INFO: http://museumca.org/calendar/omca-lunar-new-year-celebration-and-other-asian-traditions-year-dragon
  http://www.facebook.com/events/260658870655873/

The 3rd Annual Irvine Korean Festival – Irvine, 1/14/12

“The Annual Irvine Korean Cultural Festival is an event designed to commemorate Korean immigration to the United States, which began in 1903. The festival also represents an opportunity to celebrate and share Korean cultural heritage and artistic traditions with the broader Irvine community and Orange County. The Festival is a culture-filled extravaganza replete with fine Korean cuisine, games, art, music, and entertainment.”

Some highlights of the festival (link to the complete festival schedule here):

Korean Fan Dance
Korean Drum Dances
Tae Kwon Do
Samulnori
Kimchi making demonstration and other Korean cuisine
Korean Brush Painting
Han Bok (Traditional Korean Clothing)
Korean Paper Crafts

• WHERE: Irvine Civic Center
  One Civic Center Plaza
  Irvine, CA 92623
• WHEN: Saturday, 1/14/12, 10am-5pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!!!
• MORE INFO: http://irvinekoreanfestival.com/index.php?id=1
  http://sparkoc.com/event/detail/441500314/

Oshogatsu Family Festival – 1/8/12, LA

“FREE ADMISSION ALL DAY!

Ring in the New Year and the Year of the Dragon with fun arts ‘n crafts, food, and exciting cultural activities and performances.”

Some highlights: Mochitsuki (traditional mochi pounding ceremony), shi shi mai (traditional lion dance) and taiko performance, onigiri contest, dragon sculpture candy, and zaru soba!

• WHERE: Japanese American National Museum
  369 East First Street, Los Angeles California 90012
• WHEN: Sunday, 1/8/12, 11am-5pm
• HOW MUCH: FREE!
• MORE INFO: http://www.janm.org/events/2012/01/#08

Talk & Demonstration: Origami Fast Forward – 1/7/12, SF

“Origami’s not what it used to be. Here’s your chance to learn what’s new about this ancient art from one of the world’s best-known origami artists and scholars. A frequent exhibitor at galleries and museums and the author of three acclaimed books, Peter Engel draws his subject matter from the worlds of nature, mythology, and play. Inspired equally by the minimalist Japanese arts of calligraphy, brush painting, and Zen garden design and by contemporary developments in art and science, Engel captures the essence of his subjects in compositions that are evocative, abstract, and strikingly modern.

Families can stop by anytime to meet the artist, see his latest designs, purchase signed copies of his books in the museum store, and participate in hands-on paperfolding led by museum volunteers. Engel will also conduct thirty minute slide presentations at 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm to share his design secrets and reflect on the artistic, scientific, and philosophical ideas that have given new life to this traditional art form.”

• WHERE: Asian Art Museum
  200 Larkin St.
  San Francisco, CA 94102
• WHEN: Saturday, 1/7/12, 12-4pm
• HOW MUCH: Free with museum admission
• MORE INFO: http://www.asianart.org/helios/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=2738

VAALA’s Holiday Concert & Fundraiser – OC, 12/11/11

“2:00 – 4:00 PM
ARTS & CRAFTS BOUTIQUE (free admission)

Shop for unique holiday gifts including cards, jewelry, ceramics & more!

* * * * * * * * *

4:00 – 6:30 PM
HOLIDAY CONCERT (tickets: $30 general, $50 VIP)

Featuring vocalists: Quynh Giao, Pham Ha, Le Hong Quang, Giana Nguyen, and Pham Dang Khoa
With pianist Quoc Vu and guitarists Thang Le & Thinh Nguyen
M.C.: T-Huy

Concert tickets may be purchased at:
Viet Bao (714) 894-2500
Nguoi Viet (714) 892-9414
Tu Quynh (714) 531-4284
Bolsa Tickets (714) 418-2499
Online via http://www.vaala.org/

Presented by VAALA (Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association)”

• WHERE: VAALA Cultural Center
  1600 N. Broadway, Santa Ana CA
• WHEN: Sunday, 12/11/11, 2-6:30pm
• HOW MUCH: Concert tickets $30; VIP tickets $50
• MORE INFO: http://www.facebook.com/events/312179085474658/