Chinese New Year Celebration | Saturday, February 27, 2016 | Year of the Monkey

Schedule of Events – Saturday, February 27, 2016

8 AM “Monkey Around” 5K Fun Run – Our ninth annual race is a fast and easy, family-friendly run. The race starts promptly at the Bigham Knoll Campus (525 Bigham Knoll Drive). Top 3 male and female winners will receive cash prizes $100, $50, and $25. Children 12 and under receive a monkey toy. Thanks to our new partnership with the ip timing has been implemented. Advance registration recommended. Visit www.socca.us for complete instructions and enter the race.

10:30AM “Chinese New Year Parade” – Lions, dragons, gongs, local students, pep bands, and community groups will be led by grand marshals, Artistic Directors Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Bill Rauch and East West Players Asian American Theatre’s Tim Dang, to parade through Downtown Jacksonville. Students from SOCCA’s Lion Dance Clinic will highlight the procession. Register online at www.socca.us by February 19 to enter. Come and strut your stuff! The Lion Dance Clinic was made possible by Oregon Community Foundation’s Small Cultural and Arts Grant Program. Special thanks to U.S. Bank for underwriting the parade. Check out the 2015 Lion Dance clinic video below and come see them in action at the parade!

At the Bella Union Restaurant & Saloon, Second Floor, 170 W. California Street

12PM to 12:45PM “Cooking Demonstration: Sticky Pearl Rice with Chinese Sausage” – Presented by Doris Dare and Mimi Hicks. This hearty dish, frequently seen on a dim sum cart, can be a meal in itself or a side dish. Typically it is loaded with savory flavorings and uses glutinous pearl rice as its base. Doris and Mimi will be using Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, onions, and other ingredients in this demonstration. Audience will have an opportunity to sample this popular dish. Admission is $5. Tickets available at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Information Center next to the post office, or at door if available.

At the Old City Hall, Corner of Main Street and Oregon Street

11:30AM to 12:30PM “Feng Shui (風水) and the Fire Monkey” – Presented by Sugeet. What characterizes 2016 with the Fire Monkey rules? What to take advantage of, what to be wary about? Come and find out.
12:30PM to 1:30PM “What the West Adds to Feng Shui” – Presented by Sugeet. While Feng Shui is an ancient art and science from China, what in the West demonstrates use of similar underlying principles? Considering the path we are on, what can all this tell us?

1:30 to 2:30PM Are you a theater arts buff? Come and meet Tim Dang, Artistic Director of the East West Players Asian American Theatre, and Leslie Ishii, Stage Director and Actress recurred on LOST, and Bold and the Beautiful, for an intriguing conversation about their careers and Asian Americans in the entertainment industry. They will also announce exciting events featuring Chinese and Asian American artists and the 5th National Asian American Theatre Conference & Festival.

At the U.S. Hotel Ballroom, 125 E. California Street, Second Floor

12PM to 2PM “Kenpo Kungfu” – Shui Bing Fa (水冰法) grandmaster (Sijo 師祖) David Day returns to teach this highly energetic and interactive class. Responding to popular demand, this year’s class will be held at a larger venue and extended to two hours. Participants will learn valuable self-defense skills. Due to the physical nature of this program, this class is not recommended for younger children.

At the Historic Presbyterian Church, 405 E. California Street, Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)

12PM to 2PM “Brush Calligraphy (書法)” – Unique to Asian cultures, the ink, flexibility of the brush, and the absorptivity of the rice paper, produce an infinite variety of styles and forms and often thought to reveal the character of one’s personality. Fuyou Long 龍伏佑, graduate of Wuhan University and People’s University in China and a published author will give an introduction and demonstration.

At Elan Guest Suites and Gallery, 245 W. Main St.

12PM to 1PM “Searching for Gold Mountain” – The story of the Chinese gold miners of Jacksonville presented by historian Larry Smith. Gold was first found here in 1851. The mining sites are as important to the cultural history of Jacksonville and Oregon as the 1848 Sutter’s Mill gold discovery is to the people and history of California. Weather permitting, participants will visit the Long Tom Sluice Box that was dedicated by Jacksonville as a memorial fountain honoring the local Chinese history.

1PM to 2PM “Peter Britt and the Chinese” – Gold fever brought Peter Britt from Illinois to Oregon where he settled in Jacksonville. Today he is recognized as a celebrated photographer of 19th century and is noted for his collection of photographs of Chinese settlers in Jacksonville. Their stories are retold by historian Larry Smith. This presentation will be complemented by a special exhibit at the gallery: “Historical Photos of Chinese Culture in Jacksonville”, Saturday Feb.27 and Sunday Feb.28 from 11AM – 4PM.

At the Naversen Room, in the Jacksonville Public Library

12PM to 1 PM “Courage in the Golden Valley” – This is the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s new exhibition on local Chinese history. Curator Amy Drake discusses the new exhibition, including the research process, and shares photos and objects from SOHS’s collection. Visit the Rogue Valley Mall before April 17 to see the exhibit!

1PM to 2PM “Rising from the Ashes” – Learn how archaeologists are bringing Jacksonville’s Chinese neighborhood back to life. SOU Archaeologists will have artifacts from the recent excavations and be available to talk with the public about the findings and the importance of the site to the region. This presentation complements the foyer exhibit at the Library.

11:30AM – 2:30PM Children’s Activities

Let your kids romp, jump, and slide in two “Dragon Jump Houses” on the former Jacksonville Courthouse Museum grounds. Adult supervision required. 206 N 5th Street.

“Origami is Folding Fun” – Start with a square sheet of paper, fold it up to make animals, airplanes and more! Origami Master Matthew Medina will show you that this skill is fun and enjoyable for people of all ages. Art Presence Center, corner of 5th and D Street.

Arts & Crafts – Lantern building, face-painting, and games galore. IOOF Hall, 175 S. Oregon Street.

3pm Feature Presentation – “The Magic of Jade”

at the Bigham Knoll Ballroom, 525 Bigham Knoll Drive

An alluring, exotic and enchanting magic show performed by Jade. She was the winner in 1990 of the male-dominated and coveted Gold Medal of Magic, a prize only awarded a handful of times in 35 years of competitions. She has appeared internationally, including a command performance for the Monaco Royal Family and recently on the “Penn and Teller: Fool Us” show on the CW Network. This program is underwritten by the Confucius Classroom at St. Mary’s School. Admission $5. Advance tickets available at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Information Center next to the post office, or at door if available.

Special Exhibitions

At the Foyer in the Jacksonville Public Library

January 25 to March 7 “The Science behind the Site” – A look at the scientific analysis on artifact from the Jacksonville Chinese Quarter and what it tells us about the people who lived there. This exhibit will introduce the public to the scientists working on artifacts from Jacksonville Chinese Quarter site, and the cutting edge methods they are using to learn about the artifacts and the story they tell.

Inside the Rogue Valley Mall
1600 N. Riverside Ave. Medford

February 6 – April 17 “Courage in the Golden Valley “, the third annual and a new exhibition presented by the Southern Oregon Historical Society. This exhibition is a collaborative project with SOCCA and depicts the history of the Chinese in our area.