Discovering Mendocino Railway
Discover the Mendocino Railway with some great adventures.
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The Year of the Tiger Festivities & Places to Ring in the Chinese New Year
It's the year of the tiger! Celebrate Chinese New Year, January 31st through February 15th, with fun local events along the San Joaquins corridor. Be sure to take advantage of our Saver Fare discount and save 20% when you book seven days in advance.
BAY AREA
OACC’S Asian Pacific New Year Celebration
Oakland Asian Cultural Center | February 5 – February 12
The Oakland Asian Cultural Center is preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, year of the tiger, with a multi-day celebration of in-person and virtual events from February 5-12. All events are free of charge. The activities will highlight the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other cultures through dancing, storytelling, food demos, and other in-person and virtual activities. On February 6, visit the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for an in-person celebration that will include a vendor and community booth marketplace along with more cultural and artistic performances.
Event Schedule:
Lunar New Year Celebration
- Saturday, February 5: virtual kick-off with dance performances & music
- Sunday, February 6: in-person celebration at OACC (masks + vaccination/negative COVID test result required)
- Friday, February 11: virtual food & art demos
- Saturday, February 12: virtual stories & cultural presentations
Directions: The Oakland Asian Cultural Center is located in the heart of Chinatown so enjoy a walk through this historic community while you're in town. To reach the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, depart from the Oakland Jack London Square Amtrak Station and walk 12 minutes via Webster Street.
San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
Kearny St and California Street| February 19, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Recognized as one of the top ten parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade is one of the greatest events in North America. The event is one of the last remaining night illuminated parades in the country and includes over 100 units with a 288' Golden Dragon, more than 180 martial artists, gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, firecrackers, and more. Check out the Facebook event page for more details.
Tickets are necessary to attend the event and range from $40 to $70 per person.
Directions: To get to the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, take the thruway shuttle from Emeryville Station and get off at the 5 Embarcadero bus stop at California and Drumm streets. Then walk for 12 minutes along California Street to reach Kearny and California.
San Francisco Community Street Fair
Grant Avenue and Washington Street | February 19, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM & February 20, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce is excited to celebrate the year of the tiger and host their annual community street fair! Join us for this free event and head over to San Francisco Chinatown to bring in the New Year with folk dancing, opera singing, drumming, and other activities for all ages. The community street fair is one of Chinatown's largest events and the businesses are thrilled to be there with over 120 booths and concessions selling quality food, giant puppets, dragons, and other memorable attractions for the whole family.
Visit the following website for more information: Chinatown Community Street Fair.Directions: Reaching the Community Street Fair is easy - take the Amtrak shuttle from Emeryville, and get off at 5 Embarcadero in San Francisco. Then, walk up Embarcadero to Washington Street and walk for 15 minutes until you reach Washington Street and Grant Ave.
Sacramento
Sacramento Chinese New Year -- Local Cuisine in Little Saigon & Local Favorite Frank Fat's
Little Saigon: 56th Street and Florin Road | Frank Fat's: 806 L Street
Lunar New Year is around the corner. Need a way to celebrate in Sacramento? Enjoy some great local Chinese dishes at Frank Fats, a short walking distance from the Sacramento Amtrak Station. Frank Fat's offers rich culinary history and is a favorite among the Sacramento food scene. Want a little more adventure? Look no further than Sacramento's Little Saigon district, a short trip from the Sacramento Amtrak Station on southbound highway 99. Little Saigon is a neighborhood bursting with culture and flavor. The Lunar Flower Festival is an important event throughout the Vietnamese community and will be held virtually this year. The event will feature lion dances, firecrackers, a flower show, and a car show -- it's sure to be a good virtual time! If you visit Little Saigon, be sure to stop by any of the locally owned restaurants with so many delicious foods to try.
Directions: Frank Fat's restaurant is a short walk from the Sacramento Valley Station. Once exiting the station, head south towards L Street then turn left on L Street and the restaurant will be at the corner of L Street and 8th Street. Little Saigon is a short 5-minute Uber/Lyft ride from the Sacramento Valley Station.
Stockton
Visit Chung Wah Lane
144 Mun Kwok Lane
Looking for a way to ring in the Chinese New Year? Visit the newly renovated Chung Wah Lane! Walk under the beautifully crafted turquoise lamps, admire Chinese Zodiac signs adorning brightly painted poles, walk along the Dragon Mosaics, and see the Foo Dog statues guarding each gate. Chung Wah Lane is filled with cultural history and a beautiful way to ring in and enjoy a prosperous new year! Chung Wah Lane is free to visit and open to the public.
Directions: Once arriving at the Stockton Cabral (SKT), riders can take a short 3-minute walk to Chung Wah Lane. Turn right onto Weber Ave and right onto Washington Street. Chung Wah Lane will be on the corner of Washington and Hunter Street. Riders can easily walk from the Stockton San Joaquin (SKN) Station by turning left onto San Joaquin Street and then a left onto Washington Street.
Visit to the Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple
3732 Carpenter Rd
The Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple is a sight to behold! You can find this landmark gem near the outskirts of Stockton. There are over 90 larger-than-life colorful jewel-encrusted statues that can be found throughout the temple grounds. As you walk along the enlightened path, learn about the history of the Cambodian Buddha. The Wat Dhammararam Temple is also home to the annual Cambodian New Year Celebration held every April. The temple is free to visit and open to the public.
Directions: Once arriving at the Stockton San Joaquin (SKN) Station or the Stockton Cabral (SKT), the Buddhist Temple is a quick 10-minute Uber/Lyft ride.
FRESNO
Fresno Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
Kern Street & Tulare Street
Fresno boasts a bustling Chinatown where you can find delectable Chinese food! Come enjoy food, drinks, shops in Fresno’s historic Chinatown for Chinese New Year. There are many of Fresno's best kept secrets of food, shopping, sights and sounds to be discovered in Chinatown, a neighborhood that truly represents the great ethnic, cultural, and architectural diversity of Fresno.
Directions: Arrive at the Fresno Station, walk south on Tulare Street for 0.7 miles then turn left on F Street to reach Fresno’s Chinatown.
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