Celebrate the 2026 Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park the evening of September 25, co-hosted by the City of Irvine and the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center!

The sixth annual celebration features 12+ music, Chinese martial arts, and dance performances, 20+ food vendors, cultural crafts, family activities, and night market games.

Bring family and friends to enjoy food, culture, and community.

Rooted in China over 3,000 years ago, Mid-Autumn—also called the Moon or Mooncake Festival—celebrates reunion, gratitude, and abundance, with similar traditions across East and Southeast Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Music Connects｜Tradition Shines

Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with music, dance, and martial arts! Conductor Bin He leads the South Coast Chinese Orchestra in Chang’e Flies to the Moon, capturing the spirit of reunion.

From Chang’e’s legend to music and dance across cultures, each performance invites conversation.

Parents can share childhood holiday memories, while newcomers discover the festival’s spirit of reunion and gratitude.

Little Hands｜Shared Discoveries

Beyond the stage, enjoy Chinese paper cutting, mahjong, and kids’ crafts. Play games, collect stamps, and redeem them for cute, free prizes to take home!

A folded sheet becomes art; a game sparks conversation. As families create and learn together, they turn cultural discovery into shared memories.

Cultural Treasures｜Creative Encounters

Explore lantern painting, origami, and folk crafts offered by local cultural groups. Meet the people behind the traditions and try their crafts yourself.

Artists from the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association and the Chinese Calligraphy Club will demonstrate calligraphy and painting, offering free artwork to take home. 

Watch brushstrokes become words and images—and leave with a Mid-Autumn keepsake.

Shared Flavors｜Closer Neighbors

More than 20 food vendors will serve savory dishes and sweet treats. Rediscover a taste of home or try something new with family and friends—every dish can spark a story.

Cooking demonstrations offer a closer look at how dishes come together. Browse local merchants, share your finds, and enjoy an evening in good company.

Cherished Traditions｜Shared Connections

Mid-Autumn is a time to share mooncakes with family and remember loved ones far away. In Irvine, that circle widens to include the community. 

Children discover traditions through play, elders reconnect with familiar sounds and flavors, and neighbors get to know one another.

The South Coast Chinese Cultural Center will offer Mid-Autumn games and Chinese knot-making, bringing residents together through play and craft—and making cultural traditions part of community life.

Join us September 25 at the Great Park. Hear Chang’e Flies to the Moon, share a meal, and make a craft with your child. Take an evening to be together—and bring home a memory.

Admission and parking are free. Festivities take place at the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex and surrounding area. See thepark map for directions and parking, and visit theIrvine Mid-Autumn Festival website for details.+