74th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Zhongqiu Festival 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. As a homage to this time of year, LA’s Chinatown will host the 74th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2011 from 5 p.m. to midnight with a modern take on this traditional holiday. This free event offers event-goers a chance to see some of the best Chinese cultural performers in the country and interact with roaming street performers. Held in Chinatown’s Central and West Plaza, the festival organizers plan to activate the historical plazas with hands-on cultural workshops, art gallery openings, a craft beer garden featuring some of LA’s favorite breweries, moon cake sampling, moon gazing with telescopes provided by Griffith Observatory, children’s activities and dining and shopping at Chinatown’s many restaurants and merchants. In the center of Central Plaza some of the best Chinese cultural acts on the west coast will perform traditional Chinese dances, martial arts, acrobatics and much more. Children can enjoy art projects centered on the tradition of the Moon Festival and complimentary moon cake samples will be handed following a Moon Cake making demonstration by Chinatown’s bakeries. 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. The Griffith Observatory, which is making telescopes available throughout the evening, will demonstrate how to get the best view. The event is free for all ages and will be held at Chinatown’s historic Central and West Plaza (943-951 N. Broadway Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Plenty of street and event parking is available. The festival is easily accessed via Metro Gold Line rail from the Chinatown Station. For detailed program information, please call (213) 680-0243 or visit: www.chinatownla.com.