In conjunction with the City’s 50th anniversary, the City of Irvine is hosting its first Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park Balloon Lawn, Tuesday, September 21 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian communities. It is the second-most important holiday after Chinese New Year and dates back over 3,000 years, when the Emperor of China worshipped the moon for bountiful harvests.
The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, during a full moon that coincides with harvest time in the middle of autumn.
“I’m so excited to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday celebrated by many in our diverse Asian community, while also celebrating our City’s 50th Anniversary,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “I hope residents will join me and my colleagues in celebrating this cultural holiday and enjoying the evening with our family and friends.”
This family-friendly festival includes entertainment, crafts, food trucks, tea, and moon cakes — the traditional food of the festival. Local community partners will be in attendance to support the event and share organizational information and resources. This event is free, open to all ages, and no registration is required.
The City of Irvine is committed to honoring traditional and culturally relevant events that highlight the City’s diverse and multicultural community. For more information about the City’s We Are Irvine campaign, which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, please visit weareirvine.org.
For more information about the Mid-Autumn Festival, please visit cityofirvine.org. For additional information about the City’s 50th anniversary and events, visit cityofirvine.org/50th.