Concluding Creating a Historic Chinatown Alley

Final event of the one-year-series to create a Historic Chinatown Alley

2024 Lunar New Year Festival - Concludes the Historic Chinatown Alley events on Year of the Dragon with performers all the way from San Francisco’s Chinatown. Join the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation as the one-year series of events to Create a Historic Chinatown Alley comes to an end, 126 years later in Chinese American history. This is our FINAL event and last time the 5 original Chinese gold rush families are hosting Lunar New Year otherwise known as Chinese New Year.

This is only the second time in Tehama County history the Chinese Dragon has performed, the last time was July 4th, 1908 🤯 sponsored by Wong Foey and for this special event his descendants will again sponsor the Dragon for this beautiful farewell.

🗓️Date: February 4, 2024

📝RSVP: bit.ly/2024LunarNewYear

🎭Performance by San Francisco’s Leung's White Crane Dragon And Lion Dance Association is coming to revive this historic moment.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: The event will kick off with a Asian Vendors from 12-5 PM. An Ancient Chinese Dragon will arrive for only the second time in history to bless the citizens and City of Red Bluff with prosperity, good fortunate, longevity for all the years that follow. The descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and Chan family will provide a speech regarding the conclusion of the one-year series of events. There will be Lion feeding with Lai See in Historic Chinatown Alley followed by cultural performances including Tai Chi and other shared heritage.

Rainy Day Indoor Location: Tehama County Fairgrounds, 650 Antelope Blvd, GATE 4, “Tyler Jelly Building”, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Rainy Day Directions: Indoor Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/z6SoXdNuCMj69Nes6

ℹ️ Rainy Day Schedule: (with Rain)

1 PM kickoff with AAPI food and merchandise vendors so don’t forget to buy your red envelopes to feed the lion.

1 PM sneak peek and volunteer session with the ancient Chinese Dragon. Meet the the descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and Lim family.

2 PM Dragon performance blessing the citizens of Red Bluff with great power, good luck and strength.

3 PM Tai Chi & other cultural performances on Rio Street.

4 PM Chinese Lion Dance feeding & closeout followed by pictures with them and the hosting descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and Chan family as they say farewell for the conclusion of the one-year series of events and our last Chinese New Year festival.

Featuring the 趙 Chew 赵 Family Exhibition at the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, 860 Main Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080. The Helen and Joe Chew Foundation will have a display of the future self-guided walking tour for the Historic Chinatown Alley. Both, sponsored by the McConnell Foundation.

ℹ️ Sunny Day Schedule: (without rain)

✅ 12-5 PM kickoff with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders food and merchandise vendors so don’t forget to buy your red envelopes 🧧 to feed the lion.

✅ 12-1 PM sneak peek and volunteer session with the ancient Chinese Dragon. Meet the the descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and Lim family.

✅🐉 1 PM 🥳Dragon parade starts at Walnut & Rio Street blessing the citizens of Red Bluff with great power, good luck and strength.

✅ 3 PM 🙆‍♀️Tai Chi & other cultural performances on Rio Street.

✅ 4 PM Chinese Lion Dance feeding & closeout followed by pictures with them and the hosting descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and Chan family as they say farewell for the conclusion of the one-year series of events and our last Chinese New Year festival.

🚶‍♂️Featuring the 趙 Chew 赵 Family Exhibition at the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, 860 Main Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080. The Helen and Joe Chew Foundation will have self-guided walking tour display in the Historic Chinatown Alley. Both, sponsored by the McConnell Foundation.

Sunny Day Location: 📍 The event will begin in the original Historic Chinatown on Hickory Street and Rio Street (formerly known as High Street).

Historic Chinatown Alley Directions: https://g.co/kgs/VZvb9n

Complimentary concluding the one-year-series of events

Event Sponsored by:

The Helen and Joe Chew Foundation

North State Equity Fund

The descendants of Wong Foey

Veterans Day

RECOGNIZING CHINESE AMERICAN

WORLD WAR II VETERANS OF RED BLUFF

Please join the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation in a special joint tribute by having the descendants unveil a WWII Mural highlighting the accomplishments and historic achievements of our Chinese American WWII Veterans and their journey to the Congressional Gold Medal. A separate memorial and tribute will be made to recognize each C.A.C.A. Veteran recipient at their headstone buried in the segregated "Chinese Section".

On this Veterans Day, we will salute all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, especially our Chinese American WWII Veterans, as they all served with great honor and pride for one country.

Special thanks to Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) for their advocacy and work in recognizing Chinese American WWII Veterans of which 6 are Red Bluff native sons.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: The event will be kicked off by at the Veteran's Day Parade in Corning, California. The parade will begin on Yolo and 3rd Street. If you would like to meet the Historic Chinatown Alley descendants, join them for lunch at the Tehama County Veterans Memorial Hall as they unveil their WWII mural and feature a special guest. The descendants will conclude with a cemetery memorial and tribute to recognize each C.A.C.A. Veteran recipient at their headstone buried in the segregated "Chinese Section".

Parade Location: Line up starts at 9:30 -10 am on Yolo and 3rd. The parade will travel from City Hall on 3rd to 1620 Solano Street concluding at the Tehama County Veterans Memorial Hall for lunch.

Lunch Location: 1620 Solano St, Corning, CA 96021

Lunch Cost: $15 to the VFW Post 4218 and Auxiliary

Cemetery Location: Oak Hill Cemetery, One Cemetery Lane, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Event is part of a complimentary one-year-series of events

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation in collaboration with the

Chinese American Citizens Alliance and the American Legion of Honor Post 167

重阳节 Film Screening & Speaker Discussion

重阳节Chongyang Festival is celebrated on October 22 (or October 23 in China) which began during Eastern Han Dynasty circa 25 AD when Henjing went through extraordinary lengths to save his community with the fragrance of chrysanthemum.

Please join the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation as we host, in partnership with PBS, for a documentary film screening and panel discussion.

This is a one time only special event!

Admission: Free for all to enjoy! Advanced Tickets are required.

Details: As we come to a near end of the “Creating a Historic Chinatown Alley” one-year series of events, please join us as we host a documentary film screening and panel discussion. 

To celebrate the happiness of Chongyang Festival, the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation welcomes the North State, relatives and good friends to gather “to climb mountains” and enjoy this beautiful documentary regarding the story of Chinese families that reflects our own hometown story.

About the Film: The documentary film titled TYRUS tells the unlikely story of Chinese-American artist Tyrus Wong, and how he overcame a life of poverty and racism to become a celebrated painter, Hollywood sketch artist, and ‘Disney Legend’ for his groundbreaking work on the classic animated film, Bambi.

Delving into experiences dealing with racism in the United States during the early 20th century and how one man overcame those challenges to pursue his artistic passion.

Overall, this is an opportunity to learn more about the life and accomplishments of a remarkable story serving as an inspiring example of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity.

Free Tickets: bit.ly/RedBluffChewFilm

Location: State Theater located at 333 Oak St, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Event is part of a complimentary one-year-series of events

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation

in collaboration with KIXE Public Broadcasting Service

If you would like your own copy of the documentary, DVD’s signed by the writer director Pamela Tom are still available on etsy for $24.99 and make great gifts! Shop now: etsy.com/shop/tyruswong

勉 Iu Mien Folktale

Connecting the past to the present, each of Red Bluff’s Chinese American families who journeyed in the 19th Century to settle in Red Bluff, California are descendants from China’s Imperial period. Please join the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation in reconnecting the past to the present through 勉 Iu Mien folktale author Theresa Saechao Rother who recently published Three Sisters and the Black Snake.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of 勉 Iu Mien Folktales by acclaimed author Theresa Saechao Rother, who has recently released her mesmerizing masterpiece, "Three Sisters and the Black Snake." Her storytelling will immerse you in the vibrant culture of the 勉 Iu Mien people and the timeless tales that have been passed down through generations. There will be an interactive discussion to share your thoughts and engage with the author as we explore the themes, characters, and hidden gems within the story.

History of Iu Mien

The first official records of the 勉 Iu Mien people are from the Tang Dynasty (619–906 C.E.). A popular legend found on Chinese scrolls called King Ping's Charter tells the story of P'an Hu, a multi-colored dog who married a Chinese princess. According to the myth, the Chinese emperor King P'ing of the Ch'u Kingdom (528-516 B.C.) promised to give one of his daughters in marriage to anyone who could rid him of his enemy, King Kao. A multi-colored dog named P'an Hu succeeded, brought back King Kao's head, and married the princess, giving birth to six sons and six daughters. The twelve children are said to be the forefathers of the twelve Yao tribes. Though parts of the story are mythical, some believe the story tells the history of the first patriarch of the Iu Mien people.

For generations, the 勉 Iu Mien people are believed to have lived in harmony in Qianjiadong, Hunan. The 勉 Iu Mien people traded various goods with various dynasties. This prosperous period ended when officials during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 C.E.) took note of the prospering settlement and began to collect taxes from them forcibly. Many 勉 Iu Mien people were hung, houses were burnt down, and priceless pieces of 勉 Iu Mien culture destroyed. The 12 勉 Iu Mien elders blew the ox horn and called a meeting, fearing more death from the government, and told the people to flee for their lives. Before they departed, they cut up the horn into 12 pieces, vowing to return within 500 years to rebuild their homeland and put the horn back together.

Location: Tehama County Library located at 545 Diamond Ave, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Event is part of a complimentary one-year-series of events

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation

in collaboration with TJ Story Books

Limited Seats Available! Secure Your Spot Now!

#IuMienFolktales #TheresaSaechaoRother #ThreeSistersAndTheBlackSnake #BookReadingEvent #CulturalHeritage #MythicalTales #EnchantingStories #DontMissOut

劳动节Book Reading by William Wong Foey

Chinese American Author and Red Bluff Descendant

What’s a better way to open up a discussion regarding the United States of America’s implementation of the Chinese Exclusion Act on May 6th, then from a direct Red Bluff descendant.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: As part of “Creating a Historic Chinatown Alley” one-year series of events, please join us with a book reading and signing by Red Buff’s own gold rush descendant Chinese American author, William Wong Foey. His collection of books will take you across time and space, from historical fiction to exploring the present-day of Red Bluff’s rich Chinese American history derived from his personal experiences growing up in the Historic Chinatown.

Following his book reading, he will have an open conversation and dialogue with the audience on his method of using historical events to tell fictional stories that better understand human nature to pursue truth and love during the time period, roles and behaviors in response to discrimination, and how he conveys understanding perseverance of the human ideals of the American Dream from the Asian American characters in his books.

About the Author: William Wong Foey is a 1862 descendant from Red Bluff and widely well-known local educator, fiction author, and abstract artist in the community. Although the characters in his books play different roles and exhibit a variety of behaviors, each examining ways in history of how they individually thought, lead, and created opportunities resulting in justice and appreciating the beauty that exists in all societies. As an educator, he has a natural ability to engage audiences to critically think creatively about the rights and responsibilities we individually carry in society today by reflecting on our past. He will enlighten audiences in how we have more in common than differences in our nature, aspirations and ideals. The outcome of this reading and discussion is to demonstrate how through William’s art he was able to manifest the pursuit of truth, love, justice, and beauty in all societies.

Location: Shasta College - Tehama Campus - 770 Diamond Ave, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Event is part of a complimentary one-year-series of events

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation

Discover more books by Red Bluff’s Chinese American descendant authors list.

hashtag #RepresentAsianStories.

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清明节 Qingming Festival is celebrated all over the world on this day. Join the Chew family in remembrance of Red Bluff’s Chinese Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping by participating in Qing which means to clean and Ming which means bright, together cleaning the tombs to pure brightness.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: The event will kick off with tomb cleaning followed by tribute meal and tea with the Red Bluff Chinese ancestors.

Location: Oak Hill Cemetery Chinese Section

Event is part of a complimentary one-year-series of events

Traditions of Ching Ming

Red Bluff’s historic Chinese Section of the cemetery is comprised of descendants directly from China’s Imperial period. The tradition of qingtuan during the Qingming Festival is believed to date back to the longest-reigning orthodox Zhou dynasty from Red Bluff’s Chew family lineage, of more than two millennia ago.

Today, the sacred 19th Century graves reflect the overseas Chinese traditions of performing QingMing rituals dating 176 years ago. The day is comprised of not only weeding of the area, cleaning of the headstone, and replacing the wilted flowers with fresh ones, but also the lighting of incense and burning of imitation paper money. The burning of the imitation money is for the deceased to use in the afterlife.

In addition, food and tea is laid out in front of each headstone as an offering to the spirits of the deceased.

Family and friends will then eat the food at the gravesite, akin to having a picnic with their deceased relatives. It is said to bring good luck to eat the food that was offered to the deceased. Some families may also set off firecrackers to scare off evil spirits and to alert the deceased relatives that they are there to pay their respects.

The Legend of Ching Ming

Tomb-Sweeping Festival dates back over 2,500 years. The legend is it that around 650 BC, a man called Jie Zitui saved the life of Chong'er, a prince from the Jin principality, who was on the brink of starvation. The prince promised to reward Jie in the future. Nineteen years later, Prince Chong'er became Duke Wen. He ordered a search for Jie who had gone into hiding in the remote mountains with his mother. The duke wanted Jie to serve as one of his ministers.

Jie, who preferred to be a hermit in the Mianshan Mountain in today's Jiexiu city of Shanxi, had no political ambitions and refused the duke's invitation. Chong'er ordered the mountain to be burned down to force Jie out of hiding. Unfortunately, Jie did not give in and the fire ended up killing him and his mother.

To commemorate the man who saved his life whose life he had just ended, Duke Wen held a memorial underneath a willow tree, which returned from its burnt state to produce lush leaves and branches, unlike poor Jie. The Duke declared that no one should eat hot food on the anniversary of the tragedy. The tradition of eating cold food on Tomb Sweeping Day continues to this day.

The day of the ceremony became Qingming, and willow branches are seen by many as a way of warding off evil spirits from family graves.

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation and Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation

Join HJC and the City of Red Bluff for the Historic Chinatown Alley (Official) street sign unveiling, as we celebrate Red Bluff’s rich 125 year Chinese American history. Witnessing the Lion Dancers is an extremely enjoyable and culturally a very prideful experience for all ages. The Chinese Lion Dance is one of the oldest traditions for the Chinese American descendants of Red Bluff and is used at celebratory events.

Admission: Free for all to enjoy!

Details: The event will kick off with an ancient Chinese Lion Dance at 8 AM that will bless the new street signs with longevity and all participating businesses with good fortunate for the year. The descendants from the 趙Chew, 黄Foey, 陳Chin and 林Lim family will provide a speech regarding the one-year-series of events in honor of their ancestors.

Location: The “Historic Chinatown Alley” street signs will be installed on Hickory Street through Pine Street between Main Street and Rio Street (formerly known as High Street).

太極Tai Chi performance will follow at the Cone and Kimball Plaza.

Complimentary one-year-series of events to follow

Sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation and KIXE PBS

Performance by EASTERN WAYS MARTIAL ARTS®

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