California Festivals

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Marysville Bok Kai Festival

February 22, 2020

facebook.com/bokkaifestival/

Saturday Parade & Festival 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday Bomb Day 4 p.m.

Both Days

  • Bok Kai Temple Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    1st & D St., Marysville, CA
    Opened in 1854 and is still active - please respect the worship.
  • Chinese American Museum of Northern California Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    232 1st Street, Marysville, CA
  • Old Chinese School Museum Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    226 1st Street, Marysville, CA

March 9, 2019

139th Bok Kai Parade 11 a.m.-1 p.m. See the famous 175 foot long golden dragon Hong Wan Lung

Route: Corner of 6th and D Streets, south down D Street, east on First Street, and back north on C Street, ending at 3rd and C Streets.

Entertainment 2019

  • Bok Kai Festival and Street Fair 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Jing Cai Tai Chi Team  1:30-5 p.m. 113 C Street
  • Lion Dance 4 p.m. 113 C Street 
  • Vendors on 2nd Street, between D and B Streets, and will be open starting at 9 a.m.
  • Food trucks

Chinese American Film Festival 1:30-5:30 p.m.
Yuba County Library, 303 2nd Street
$10 donation
Documentaries on Chinese American history, pioneers and community life.

Chinatown Walking Tours 1 & 3 p.m.
Meet at the Suey Sing Association Building, 305 1st Street, includes guided tour of photo exhibits above.
$5 donation, eventbrite.com

Chinese Railroad Workers Cooking Demo with Chef Don Lee 2 & 5 p.m.
305 1st St.
$10 donation
Chef Don Lee is a business and community activist in New York Chinatown. He has researched the foods that the Chinese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad negotiated in their labor contracts with the Central Pacific Railroad 1865-69. He will prepare dishes using many of the dried and local ingredients they used. 

March 10, 2019

Bomb Day Ceremony 4 p.m.
Traditional firing of the Bombs & good fortune ring competition at corner of 1st & C Street

Workshops: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Yuba County Library, 303 2nd St. Reservations requested for meal planning. Suggested Donation including Lunch & Refreshments: Students $20, General $30. Walk-ins as space available.
History of the Chinese & Asian Immigrant Experience
Immigration & Exclusion
Rituals, Temples, and Community History

Walking Tours of Marysville Chinatown 2 p.m.
Meet at the Suey Sing Association, 305 1st Street.
Reservations recommended

The annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival in Marysville celebrates the lunar new year and Chinese Year of the Pig with an exciting and colorful event that includes costumes, dragon dancers and cultural exchange. Possibly the oldest continuous parade in California takes to the streets of Marysville, with the hub of surrounding activities happening at the restored, 1888 Bok Kai Temple. The temple sits on the bank of the Yuba River with its main altar facing toward the river. It has been the responsibility of Bok Eye to ward off any evil and protect the community of Marysville and its inhabitants. Bok Eye, the god of the North, is said to be the Chinese god of water whose powers have successfully prevented Marysville from being flooded when all surrounding communities have sustained near-ruinous flooding as recently as 1997. Bok Eye's powers include overseeing waterways, water systems, irrigation and rain.

Bomb Day (Yee Yeut Yee), at the corner of 1st and C Streets includes handmade bombs being lit and young men scrambling to catch the lucky rings. The catching of the rings is open for viewing only; ring catchers are pre-selected through special invitation of the Chinese Community. This unique event is the only one of its kind any where in the Americas and has happened annually since at least the 1880s.

Other events include Marysville Peach Festival in July.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.


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