Chinese Historical & Cultural Project upcoming events

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.

CAH Museum Open (during Dia de Muertos) (October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:00:00 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.

The Museum will be open from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday October 31 during the Dia De Muertos celebration at History Park. The Dia De Muertos celebration will be held on Saturday October 31 from 2:00 to 10:00 pm and Sunday November 1 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Experience the vibrant celebration of Dia de Muertos at History Park for a family-friendly gathering that honors and embraces the rich tapestry of Mexican heritage. This lively event boasts an array of engaging activities for kids, captivating live entertainment, a delectable selection of food trucks, artisanal arts & crafts, skilled face painters, enticing vendors, a beautifully crafted ofrenda (offering space), delightful shopping opportunities, thrilling contests, and so much more.

ADMISSION: Free

Information for the Dia De Muertos event can be found here.

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

CAH Museum Open (November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:00:00 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.

CHCP Outreach @ HSJ San José Roots Celebration (November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

History San José’ (HSJ) is honoring the cultural diversity of the region on November 7th at the San Pedro Square Market from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

San José Roots celebrates San José's history, starting with its earliest periods to its present innovative spirit. The free program aims to provide a platform for cultural exchange, storytelling, and artistic expression, showcasing the rich historical and contemporary contributions of various communities in San José.

Community members will get to enjoy hands-on activities from the Spanish and Mexican eras, community booths from local historical and cultural organizations, tours of Gonzales/Peralta Adobe and Carmela & Thomas Fallon House, along with cultural performances on the San Pedro Square Market Stage in collaboration with Mosaic America. CHCP will host an outreach table with children's crafts and CHCP's Hoong the Dragon will perform for the audience. CHCP's Traveling Exhibit will also be on display.

To accommodate more community partners and cultural organizations, History San José is closing Sharks Way between Almaden Ave/Terraine Street and N. San Pedro Street, providing an open, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly space for the festivities.

Admission: Free

CHSA Book Talk with Lily Qi: "Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland" (CANCELED) (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

Join the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF)'s virtual session on November 12 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.

The session will be moderated by AIISF Executive Director Ed Tepporn, with guest speakers: CHCP Historian Connie Young Yu, whose work helped preserve Angel Island, and pioneering Asian American journalist Christopher Chow.

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.

CHCP Celebrates Veterans Day (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

To celebrate Veterans Day, CHCP will share the story of the Chinese American WWI hero, Lau Sing Kee, at the Chinese American Historical Museum on Saturday November 7, 2026.

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.

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

CAH Museum Open (November 21, 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 20:00:00 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.

CAH Museum Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday (November 28, 2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) will be CLOSED for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Meanwhile, please view a slideshow of the museum or take a virtual tour of the museum.

HAVE A JOYOUS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!