Goldscene

Culture Calendar

Asian culture events in San Francisco Bay Area

Bay Area Asian culture festivals, night markets, and community events.

Upcoming in Northern California

Sep 19 – Sep 20, 2026#events#festivals#food

Millbrae Mid-Autumn Festival 2026

Millbrae, California

Millbrae Mid-Autumn Festival returns September 19–20, 2026 on Broadway with performances, food, and lantern programming for the Peninsula harvest weekend.

Image: Millbrae Cultural Committee

Oct 3 – Oct 4, 2026#events#festivals#food

Sunnyvale Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 at Cityline

Sunnyvale, California

Sunnyvale Mid-Autumn Festival is listed October 3–4, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cityline Sunnyvale with Peninsula harvest-festival programming.

Image: Events OMG / Sunnyvale Mid-Autumn

Recently ended

Past San Francisco Bay Area listings stay live for recaps and next-year bookmarks.

Aug 22 – Aug 23, 2026#events#festivals#food

37th Oakland Chinatown StreetFest 2026

Oakland, California

Oakland Chinatown Chamber’s 37th StreetFest returns August 22–23, 2026 with local vendors, three entertainment stages, food, and cultural performances in Oakland Chinatown.

Image: Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

Aug 15 – Aug 16, 2026#events#festivals#food

FOG Festival of India Mela and Parade 2026 in Fremont

Fremont, California

FOG’s 34th Festival of India Mela and Parade runs August 15–16, 2026 in Fremont with parade floats, live music and dance, Indian cuisine, and a shopping bazaar.

Image: FOG / Federation of Indo Americans Northern California

Aug 8 – Aug 9, 2026#events#festivals#food

Bay Area Aloha Festival at San Mateo County Event Center

San Mateo, California

PICA’s Bay Area Aloha Festival runs August 8–9, 2026 at San Mateo County Event Center with Hawaiian and Pacific Islander food, crafts, entertainment, workshops, and keiki programming.

Image: Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association

Aug 8 – Aug 9, 2026#events#festivals

Pistahan Parade and Festival 2026 at Yerba Buena

San Francisco, California

The 33rd Pistahan Festival returns free August 8–9, 2026 (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) at Yerba Buena Gardens and YBCA with Filipino arts, food contests, and six learning pavilions in SOMA Pilipinas.

Image: Filipino American Arts Exposition

Aug 8, 2026#events#festivals#food

SACBC Obon Festival in Union City

Union City, California

Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church’s free Obon Festival lands Saturday, August 8, 2026 in Union City with food sales from 5 p.m. and Obon dance at 7 p.m.

Aug 1 – Aug 2, 2026#events#food#festivals

Nihonmachi Street Fair 2026 in San Francisco Japantown

San Francisco, California

The 52nd Nihonmachi Street Fair runs free August 1–2, 2026 (11 a.m.–6 p.m.) in San Francisco Japantown with two stages, AAPI food vendors, artisans, and community booths around Peace Plaza.

Image: Nihonmachi Street Fair

Beyond events

Film, TV, music, and culture coverage from Goldscene. Not just what's on the calendar.

A Laneige storefront in Seoul displaying skincare products and brand signage.

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How K-beauty took America by storm

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Context image: wok cooking technique.

Today's Radar

Velveting, explained as a Chinese kitchen technique

Velveting is the Chinese prep step that keeps stir-fry chicken and shrimp tender instead of rubbery: a cornstarch-and-oil coat, a rest, then a quick par-cook before the wok. Here is how it works and why diaspora cooks are finally seeing the name match the method.

Goldscene Pulse

Get Friday's concise edit of Asian entertainment, a finished watch queue, and culture dates worth saving.