A spectacular Chinese Lion Dance by the Camarillo Kung Fu and Lion Dance Association highlights the Chinese Cultural Heritage Festival at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, September 8th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The family event celebrates the cultural contributions of Chinese Americans, with the Lion Dance at 2:00 p.m. and additional Chinese dance performances, demonstrations of kinetic sculpture, calligraphy, brush painting, paper making, and silk painting throughout the afternoon. Visitors can also visit the new museum exhibit Hidden Voices: The Chinese of Ventura County, which focuses upon the largely unheard story of early Chinese settlements in Ventura and Oxnard. Festival admission is $5 for the general public, free for members and children 12 years old and younger, and includes entry to all four new museum exhibits.

The Ventura County Chinese American Association Dance Troupe, and Nan’s Dance Studio present performances after the Lion Dance. Throughout the day, artist BiJian Fan demonstrates how he makes his kinetic sculptures; artist Christine Leong paints with watercolor on paper and silk scarves; the Conejo Chinese Cultural Association demonstrates how to make paper, and the Ventura County Chinese American Association applies the brush to the art of calligraphy and painting.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibitions is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. The first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.