Drums & Dance Welcome Mid-Autumn | 10,000+ Gather at Great Park

Drums Roar, Music Soars!

Co-hosted by the City of Irvine and SCCCC, the 2026 Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival drew 10,000+ to Great Park on Sept. 25 for music, dance, food, and fun.

On stage, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Indian performances showcased Asia’s cultural diversity. Beyond the stage, crafts, family games, calligraphy, tea culture, food, and community booths turned the park into a vibrant Asian cultural festival.

Lions Leap | Warriors Soar

The evening opened with power and flair as the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center Wushu Team took the stage.

Two lions leaped, rolled, and played pounding drums, filling the crowd with festive energy.

Young martial artists followed with swords, spears, staffs, and sabers, soaring through the air with crisp, powerful moves as a dragon swept across the stage to roaring applause.

Then a smiling Buddha led three colorful lions into the celebration. 

To the beat of gongs and drums, they circled the crowd, climbed high for the traditional cai qing ritual, and unfurled a banner wishing everyone “May All Go Your Way.” The vibrant scene set a joyful tone for the night.

Leaders Dance | Crowds Cheer

At 6 p.m., Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, Vice Mayor James Mai, Great Park Board Chair William Go, Councilmember Melinda Liu, Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco, and other elected officials greeted the crowd from the stage.

Agran said the Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival has continued to grow since its launch in 2021, bringing together residents across cultures and generations through music, food, and community. 

He thanked the many people behind the celebration and wished everyone a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival.

He also thanked South Coast Chinese Cultural Center CEO Yulan Chung and her team for their creativity, passion, and years of work with the City, helping the festival grow into an important celebration of community and cultural connection.

Then came Dance Under the Moon. As the music began, elected officials danced onstage while dancers below swept through the crowd with flowing sleeves and colorful fans. 

Children and families joined in, turning the plaza into one joyful dance floor.

Kishin Daiko followed with raised drumsticks, thunderous strikes, and tightly synchronized movements, sending powerful rhythms across the park.

Strings Sing | Dancers Soar

The Chinese Dance Company of Southern California brought three contrasting works—Celebration Medley, Ode to the Orange Tree, and Whispers of Spring. 

Flowing green sleeves and graceful movements captured classical elegance, while flashes of red costumes and silver ornaments brought bursts of energy to the stage.

The program continued with Modern Apsara Cambodian classical dance, SCCCC drums, Thủy Vân Vietnamese dance, Jeong Arts and Culture with Orange County School of the Arts, and Arpana South Indian classical dance. 

Vietnamese fans swept through the air, Korean skirts and fans bloomed across the stage, and Indian dancers brought vivid rhythm and intricate movement.

At 8:35 p.m., conductor Bin He led the South Coast Chinese Orchestra in Chang’e Flies to the Moon.

Chinese instruments and vocals blended as Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit danced across the stage, bringing the moon legend to life. 

A duet followed before DooDream closed the night with the bold, driving rhythms of Korean samulnori.

Culture Shared | Community United

Yulan Chung said the Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival is more than a celebration—it is a place where Asian culture is seen, shared, and brought to life.

“Culture must be passed on, but it must also be shared,” she said. From lion dance and Chinese music to Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Indian performances, the festival helps younger generations connect with their roots while bringing diverse communities closer together.

Crafts Bloom | Children Beam

The energy extended far beyond the stage. SCCCC offered Mid-Autumn and night-market games inspired by Hou Yi and Chang’e, along with marble games and ring toss.

Children eagerly lined up to play, while a prize wheel drew another crowd with mooncakes, inflatable headpieces, and other giveaways.

Chinese knotting, paper cutting, origami, and Lucky Carp Lantern crafts kept hands busy throughout the evening. 

Nearby, families tried on Hanfu and posed beneath moon-and-cloud decorations, while laughter and the clatter of mahjong tiles added a familiar touch of everyday Chinese culture.

Ink Flows | Art Endures

Culture booths added another layer of warmth. 

Artists from local Chinese senior and calligraphy groups painted and wrote Chinese calligraphy on-site, drawing long lines of visitors eager to take home a piece of original artwork.

Tea culture, cooking demonstrations, mooncakes, and traditional crafts offered more ways to experience culture through sight, taste, and touch. 

Nonprofits including Asian cultural organizations and Irvine Library joined in with interactive games, moon-themed stories, and children’s books, turning the celebration into a space for both learning and connection.

Flavors Rise | Families Gather

As night fell, aromas filled the food area. More than 20 vendors served flavors from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and beyond—from skewers and barbecue to baked treats, boba, and specialty drinks.

Under the lights, children carried red lanterns through the crowd, parents walked hand in hand with them, and even family pets joined the celebration. Music, laughter, and drums echoed across Great Park.

For one night, Mid-Autumn became more than a holiday—it became a shared memory of families, friends, and cultures coming together in Irvine.