The City of Irvine in partnership with South Coast Chinese Cultural Center will host a Mid-Autumn Festival at Great Park, Friday, September 9, from 5 to 9 p.m.

This family-friendly festival includes education, entertainment, crafts, poetry reading, food trucks, and artistic demonstrations. 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 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 worshiped the moon for bountiful harvests.

The community is invited to celebrate this honored tradition with friends and family at Great Park, enjoying live musical and dance performances, cultural exhibits, and a festive atmosphere. The festival is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, during a full moon that coincides with harvest time in the middle of autumn. The City is holding its festival the day prior to the traditional observance, to allow the community to celebrate with other religious or social groups on the day.