Moon Festival in Chinatown

Los Angeles Chinatown, also referred to as “New Chinatown”, celebrates its annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Sept. 13. The “Chinatown Moon Festival” has been a mainstay event for 76 years, popular with Chinese-Americans and Angelenos from all walks of life.

The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, also known as the Zhongqiu Festival in China, is a popular harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese dating back over 3,000 years. Farmers celebrate the end of the harvesting season on this date and Chinese family members and friends gather to gaze at the bright harvest moon and eat moon cakes. Although the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival has roots dating back to the establishment of New Chinatown, it has evolved over the years, fusing traditional ceremonies with more modern activities.

Held in Chinatown’s Central and West Plaza, the festival organizers plan to activate the historical plazas with hands-on cultural workshops, cultural performances, live DJ sets featuring KCRW DJs, gourmet food trucks, craft beer garden featuring LA-based craft breweries, an Asian night market on Bamboo Lane, artisans, storytelling, and shopping and dining at nearby Chinatown restaurants and merchants. See below for the event and merchant schedule.

Presenting sponsor Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas, will present an outdoor baccarat lounge in Central Plaza complete with baccarat tables and swanky cocktail lounge for a unique Las Vegas experience, Chinatown style.

Children of all ages can enjoy art projects centered on the tradition of the Moon Festival and Chinatown’s favorite bakeries will provide complimentary moon cake sampling. Foodies will be delighted as Chinatown’s best chefs demonstrate their culinary prowess utilizing a state of the art outdoor kitchen—attendees get to sample the food after each dish is made.

As the moon starts to rise above the horizon, it will be in full view and attendees will get a chance to learn why this time of year is so special. Unlike the traditional Chinese custom of gazing at the bright harvest moon, attendees get to view it in greater detail using state-of-the-art telescopes provided by Griffith Observatory. Volunteers from the observatory will be on hand to demonstrate how to get the best view.

The 75th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is free for all ages at Chinatown’s historic Central and West Plaza (943-951 N. Broadway Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) and along Bamboo Lane. Plenty of street and event parking is available. The festival is easily accessed via Metro Gold Line rail from the Chinatown Station.