Maritime Flair to Chinese New Year | Fisherman’s Wharf

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Bring in the Chinese New Year at SF Maritime National Historical Park’s celebration on the Hyde Street Pier.

Join Park Rangers for a day of cultural activities, kid’s crafts, history, folk music and a chance to see the park’s Chinese sailing junk colorfully decorated for the New Year. Because this is the first time the Maritime Park is doing it, it won’t be as crowded as it’ll be in the years to come; perfect time to take in this free celebration.

Chinese New Year’s celebrations have been observed in California from as early as the mid 19th century. The park’s first annual Chinese New Year program is inspired by the long historic tradition of American communities in the west celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Activities at the first ever Chinese New Year at the Maritime Park:

9:30 am to 5:00 pm – Recreated Junk: The park’s re-creation of a 19th century Chinese Shrimping junk will be decorated with 4 Chinese characters “yi fan feng shun” transforming the junk into a lucky symbol for the New Year. These characters call for “smooth sailing” — a year that will be smooth and free of obstacles.

10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Craft Making: In the Visitor Center where kids make ink block prints, use rubber stamps to create New Year decorations, and learn how to fold paper into the delightful origami shapes of shrimp and fish.

11:00 am to 11:30 am – History Talk: In the Visitor Center, SF teacher/author Irene Dea Collier will present “Fish Tails and Tales,” stories about Chinese American fishermen from a unique selection of books about Chinese American history.

1:00 pm – Traditional Music: On the historic ferry boat Eureka, vocalist Wilma Pang and the Chinese Instrumental Ensemble will perform a concert of traditional Cantonese folk music.

11:00, 11:30, 1:00 and 1:30 – Rangers Presentations: On the Hyde Street Pier, Rangers will present talks regarding the pioneering history of Chinese American fishing communities on the west coast, in both English and Cantonese.

2:00 pm – Dance Performance: The day’s celebration will culminate with a colorful Chinese Lion Dance performance at Hyde Street Pier. Two Lions accompanied by musicians on drums and cymbals from Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association perform.

For more information, please call the visitor center at (415) 447-5000, or Email Jordan_Yee@nps.gov.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.