Chinese Historical & Cultural Project upcoming events

Voting is Open for CHCP Civil Rights Contest (thru Oct 17) (September 13, 2026)

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Reflections on Civil Rights & the Asian American Experience
at the United States' Semiquincentennial

From May 2026 through August 2026, CHCP held a contest, Civil Rights & the Asian American Experience, for submissions from California residents connecting historical Asian American civil rights events to the present. Submissions for CHCP's contest have now ended and voting for contest entries in the Adult Division for People's Choice is now open.

You can view and vote for the Adult Division contest entries for People's Choice below. There will be three (3) People’s Choice Awards in the Adult Division.

The Youth Division will have cash awards for first ($500), second ($350), and third ($250) prize, and up to three (3) honorable mentions, selected by a judging panel.

Winners (for both the Adult and Youth divisions) will be announced in late October and recognized at an in-person Award Ceremony. Please check the CHCP website for further upcoming details at that time. We welcome all participants to attend the event in person. Winning projects will be featured on the CHCP website and displayed in public exhibitions.

For Questions: Please email Contest2026@chcp.org.

Voting Deadline: October 17, 2026

VOTE HERE

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest (thru Nov 1) (October 22, 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene (CATS) is proud to present the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest (SVAPFF), providing access to top-quality cinema created by Asian American artists that offers valuable opportunities to learn about Asian cultures and experiences. This year’s theme, The Connecting Power of Film, celebrates the stories, filmmakers, and communities that bring us together through cinema.

The festival kicks off with Opening Night on October 22 at De Anza Visual Performing Arts Center (21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014), followed by the in-person weekend festival October 23–25 at AMC Sunnyvale 12 (150 E McKinley Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086), then continues online October 26–November 1.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Use code SVAPFF-EB25 by September 30 for a 25% discount.

For movie schedule and to purchase tickets: www.svapfilmfest.org.

CHCP Celebrates Children's Halloween Haunt (October 24, 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

History Park transforms into a haunted family-friendly Halloween park on October 24 from 2:00 to 6:30 pm for History Park's Children's Halloween Haunt. Families can enjoy crafts, activities, and trick-or-treating at the historic houses. The event ends with a single showing of the traditional Halloween Haunt Light Show at 6:00 pm.

Also, there will be a Sugar Skull workshop for a small fee.

The Chinese American Historical Museum will be CLOSED, but CHCP will be sharing bat and spider activities outside the Museum from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.

ADMISSION: Halloween Haunt information and tickets can be found here.

For Museum information (including parking, directions, slideshow, and virtual tour): visit our Museum page.

World of Dumplings Food Festival (October 25, 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

The free, family-friendly event, World of Dumplings, will be held at the iconic Ferry Building on Sunday, October 25th from 11 AM - 5 PM.

World of Dumplings celebrates our different cultures and communities through our shared love of dumplings - highlighting our similarities and celebrating our delicious differences.

Whether they are the wontons of China, the gyozas of Japan, the momos of Nepal, the manties of Turkey, raviolis of Italy, or the empanadas of Spain - we love all dumplings!

What to expect:

Dumplings from all over the world
25+ restaurant vendors
Eating contests
Cooking demos
Beer garden
Raffle prizes
Dumpling trivia
Family activities
Performances
Music
And more!

RSVP HERE

CAH Museum Open (October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) is housed in the Ng Shing Gung building, which is part of History Park, located in Kelley Park, San Jose.

Admission: Free

For more information (including parking, directions, slideshow, and virtual tour): visit our Museum page.

CHSA Book Talk with Lily Qi: "Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland" (November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) on November 8 for an in-depth conversation with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi, Chinese-born American politician and the first native of Communist China elected to a state legislature in the U.S.

Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland is a 2026 political memoir and immigrant autobiography written by Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi. The book chronicles her remarkable journey from growing up in Mao Zedong's China during the cultural revolution to becoming the first Chinese-born state legislator elected in Maryland.

As the only current U.S. state legislator to have lived through China's Cultural Revolution, Qi brings a rare cross-system comparison to modern American politics, warning Americans never to take democracy or freedom for granted.

ADMISSION (includes complimentary lunch buffet):

$15 General Admission
$40 General Admission + copy of book

Books will be available for purchase at the event for $35.

FOR TICKETS

Seminar: Unlock Your Ancestors' Military Records (thru Nov 8) (November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Various Bay Area libraries will be hosting a FREE seminar on the subject: Unlock Your Ancestors' Military Records.

Location/Date/Time

Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, Friday, July 10, 1 – 3 PM
Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, Sunday, July 12, 2 – 4 PM
Morgan Hill Library, 660 W Main Ave, Morgan Hill, Tuesday, July 14, 4 – 6 PM
Cupertino Library, 10800 Torre Ave, Cupertino, Thursday, July 23, 1 – 3 PM (RESCHEDULED: from July 18)
Milpitas Library, 160 North Main St, Milpitas, Saturday, July 25, 1 – 3 PM
Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth St, Gilroy, Monday, July 27, 2 – 4 PM
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, Sunday, November 8, 2 – 4 PM

What you will learn

Access military records from major archives and databases
Interpret DD-214s, draft cards, and service records
Use census and muster rolls to trace service
Create storytelling from veteran oral histories and personal accounts
Create and share a meaningful memorial page

Session Abstract

Unlock Your Ancestors’ Military Records: Critical documents, resources, and techniques to create military service stories. Discover the hidden stories of veterans in your family. This seminar shows how U.S. military records can enrich genealogy research by revealing an ancestor’s life, service, and character. Learn step-by-step methods to access records from the National Archives, FamilySearch, fold3, and online resources. Explore how to interpret DD-214 forms, locate draft registrations, use census and muster records to trace service and deployments. Hear veteran oral histories that bring records to life with personal context. Participants will learn to create a lasting memorial page honoring service.

About The Speaker: Ron Chan

Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a Co-Founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. As a CHCP Advisory Board Member, Ron is a contributor to CHCP's Oral History Project. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.

AIISF Webinar: Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future (November 12, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

As America's 250th starts to wind down, join the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF)'s virtual session to learn about the history of the Angel Island Immigration Station, the early efforts to preserve the site's historic building, and current day programs and exhibits on the site.

1882 Foundation Family History Storytelling Potluck (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Join the 1882 Foundation, My China Roots, and guest facilitators for an interactive day of Chinese family history storytelling. Like a potluck, everyone brings something to the table—a family object, photo, document, memory, question, or simply curiosity—and leaves with expert guidance, complimentary research support, and practical next steps.

Through demonstrations, small-group conversations, and community sharing, explore how to uncover the stories behind family heirlooms, capture memories that may not exist in any archive, and transform family history discoveries into a legacy for others.

BACGG Seminar: Finding Your Taiwanese & Chinese Roots (November 15, 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Join the seminar “Finding Your Taiwanese & Chinese Roots” on Nov 15, 2026. Discover how genealogy records, archives, and family stories can help you trace an ancestral village and uncover connections between the United States, Taiwan, and China. Expert speakers will share practical strategies for finding genealogy records, researching family history, planning a visit to an ancestral homeland, and preserving stories for future generations. Whether beginning your family history journey or an experienced researcher, this seminar offers resources, real-life case studies, and inspiration to help you connect with your heritage.

Brought to you by Christine Hsu of the Love Boat Alumni Initiative and Ron Chan of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG), with generous support from the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA).

REGISTER HERE