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

Oct 9 – Oct 11, 2026#events#festivals#food

626 Night Market Pleasanton 2026 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds

Pleasanton, California

626 Night Market’s only 2026 Northern California weekend is Friday through Sunday, October 9–11, 3:00 to 11:00 p.m., at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, 2005 Valley Avenue, Pleasanton. Parking is $15. Kids 5 and under are free. Buy admission on 626nightmarket.com.

Image: 626 Night Market / Foodieland LLC

Oct 9 – Oct 11, 2026#events#festivals

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2026 at Newark Pavilion

Newark, California

Sanskriti Bay Area lists Durga Puja Thursday, October 9, 5:30 p.m., through Sunday, October 11, 10:00 p.m., at Newark Pavilion, 6430 Thornton Avenue. Online bhog sales are closed. Buy at the venue while it lasts.

Image: Sanskriti Bay Area

Oct 10 – Oct 11, 2026#events#festivals

Abahan Bay Area Durga Puja 2026 at ICC Milpitas

Milpitas, California

Abahan Bay Area’s first Durga Puja is Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11, 2026, at the India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas. The org site locks the dates. Hours and a public door price are not posted.

Image: Abahan Bay Area

Oct 10, 2026#events#festivals#culture

Double Ten flag ceremony 2026 at Santa Clara County Government Square

San Jose, California

The Double Ten Celebration Committee S.F. Bay Area holds the 2026 ROC National Day flag ceremony on Saturday, October 10, at 10:10 a.m. at Santa Clara County Government Square, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose. The committee page lists performances, snacks, and a souvenir lanyard.

Image: Double Ten Celebration Committee S.F. Bay Area

Oct 10, 2026#events#festivals

Grand Dashain Mela 2026 at the Nepali Community Center

Richmond, California

NANC lists The Grand Dashain Mela Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Nepali Community Center, 369 Chesley Avenue, Richmond. Entry is free. The page's own clock disagrees with itself, so hours are not locked here.

Image: Nepali Association of Northern California

Oct 16 – Oct 18, 2026#events#festivals

Agomoni Durga Puja 2026 in San Ramon

San Ramon, California

Agomoni’s 10th-year open-air Durga Puja is Friday through Sunday, October 16–18, 2026, in the parking lot at 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. The flyer names Anindya Bose and Rishi Panda. Hours and a public door price are not posted.

Image: Agomoni

Oct 17, 2026#events#festivals

Bay Area Diwali Festival 2026 at Cupertino Memorial Park

Cupertino, California

The City of Cupertino lists its Diwali Festival Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Park, 21121 Stevens Creek Boulevard. The city calls it a sponsored event run by an outside organizer. No door price is on the city card.

Oct 22 – Oct 25, 2026#events#festivals#film

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest 2026

Silicon Valley, California

SVAPFF's 12th festival runs October 22–25, 2026. Opening night is at De Anza College VPAC; weekend screenings list AMC Sunnyvale. A virtual week follows October 26–November 1.

Image: Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest / CATS

Oct 24, 2026#events#festivals

Walnut Creek Diwali Street Fair 2026 at the Lesher Center

Walnut Creek, California

Walnut Creek Downtown lists a Diwali Celebration Street Fair Saturday, October 24, 2026, noon to 5 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive. Free. Artisan market, food, and live sets.

Image: Lesher Center for the Arts / Walnut Creek Downtown

Recently ended

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

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

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

Beyond events

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

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.