Large crowd expected for Lunar New Year celebration
Red Bluff has a rich Chinese history. Many events have taken place around the historic Chinatown Alley. (Mandy Feder-Sawyer)
PUBLISHED: January 15, 2025 at 2:27 AM PST
RED BLUFF – A rich and vibrant cultural heritage event draws nearly 1,000 attendees each year to usher in the Lunar New Year celebration in Red Bluff.
Attendance has grown significantly each year, with hundreds more joining annually. Most attendees are from surrounding counties, including Shasta, Butte, Glenn and Colusa.
All are invited to Historic Chinatown Alley’s Annual New Year Celebration in Red Bluff. The event is free-of-charge and open to the public on Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it will take place rain-or-shine. The Historic Chinatown Alley is an official street in the City of Red Bluff, located on Rio Street between Hickory Street and Pine Street.
According to Jessica Chew, President of the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation, the Lunar New Year events evolved in Red Bluff over the years and grown in attendance and interest.
“Our first year, we decided to bless the new Historic Chinatown Alley street signs with a traditional lion dance ceremony. This is common in most major cities and a big part of Red Bluff’s history. We opened the event to the public and to our surprise over 500 people attended,” she said.
The second year coincided with the Year of the Dragon. It was a particularly special as Red Bluff’s history includes the 1908 July 4th parade on Main Street, where the Wong Foey family brought the most famous dragon in America to perform.
“We reunited with the Wong Foey family to recommission the dragon’s return — for the second time in North State history. Despite a torrential ‘pineapple storm,’ where even the dragon performers almost didn’t come, but we relocated the venue and ensured the historic event took place, drawing more than 800 attendees. This year, our nonprofit is hosting independently and without any grants, and we anticipate even greater attendance,” Chew added.
Since the Gold Rush, the Chew and Wong Foey families were central to organizing New Year festivities on Rio Street. These events were supported by five original Chinese American families who settled in Red Bluff.
“Today, our nonprofit works hard to find any funding to carry on these traditions even if it means coming out of our own pockets to do so. This town means that much to us,” Chew said.
The Chew family was the second to settle in Red Bluff. Chew Bo Do Hong was one of two doctors serving the community. Jessica Chew’s great-grandfather, Chew You, was an accountant for traditional Chinese medicine practices nationwide.
“His and my grandfather Joe Chew’s meticulous record-keeping has preserved much of our family’s history across generations,” Chew said. “Red Bluff’s community is deeply embedded in the hearts of the Chew family wherever we are living. Even those of us who live far away feel a profound connection to our roots here in Red Bluff. In 1915, my great-grandmother Ng Shee and grand uncles Dick and Ned Chew were detained at Angel Island.”
It was the Red Bluff community leaders such as the Mayor, Post Master, City Council, bank presidents and more who petitioned for their immigration. This act of kindness during a time of widespread discrimination was extraordinary and has left an indelible mark on our family’s story, eventually leading to the Oyster King being born — Dr. Kenneth Kendall Chew.
“We’re proud to pass the torch of cultural heritage to the emerging Hmong, Laotian and Iu Mien communities throughout Northern California as our Chinese population dwindles,” Chew said.
This year, the Iu Mien Flower Girls will perform alongside Jeannie Lim, a descendant of Historic Chinatown and former owner of Lim’s Cafe in Redding. She will join North Valley Tai Chi Yuen in a Tang style performance.
“These performances symbolize the unity and continuity of our diverse traditions bridging our communities past with present,” Chew said.
The year 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. Each year, the Lunar New Year falls on a different date. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 29, marking the start of the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
Event highlights include a lion dance performance that brings luck and joy for the New Year. There will be cultural markers where attendees can learn about the history and stories of Red Bluff’s Chinatown and the people who built the community. Food and refreshments will be available, as well.
This event is sponsored by the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation. For more information, contact redbluffchew.org.