Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival!
Posted Date: 09/25/26 (08:50 AM)
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival!
Celebrated by millions of people across China, Vietnam, Korea, and other Asian communities around the world, the festival is often a time to gather with loved ones, give thanks, enjoy special foods, share stories and appreciate the full moon.
Traditions vary across cultures and families, and at INDY, we love opportunities for our students to learn about the traditions, stories, and celebrations that are meaningful to members of our community!
Looking for a way to learn and celebrate together? Choose one (or a few!) of these activities:
- Try a mooncake. Visit a local Asian bakery or market and try this traditional Mid-Autumn Festival treat. Cut one into pieces and share it together. Want to learn why mooncakes are part of the celebration? Explore the Smithsonian's Moon Festival resources.
- Make a lantern. Create a paper lantern at home and decorate it with moons, rabbits, stars, wishes, or symbols meaningful to your family. The Smithsonian's family craft ideas include ideas inspired by Chinese seasonal festivals.
- Go moon watching. Head outside after sunset and spend a few minutes looking at the moon together. What do you notice? What shapes or pictures can you imagine? Families and friends looking at the same moon, even when they are far apart, is an important theme of the Moon Festival.
- Discover the stories of the moon. Learn about Chang'e, Hou Yi, the Moon Rabbit, and other stories associated with the festival. Watch the Smithsonian's short animated Moon Festival video and story of Hou Yi.
- Read a Mid-Autumn Festival story. Check out this Mid-Autumn Festival children's book list, which includes picture books, bilingual books, stories about Chang'e and the Moon Rabbit, and books about celebrations across cultures.
- Create moon art. Draw, paint, collage, sculpt, or build your own version of the moon. You could even create the different phases of the moon or design your own mooncake pattern!
- Cook or eat together. Food and family are important parts of many Mid-Autumn traditions. Make a favorite family recipe, try something new, or simply enjoy a meal together.
- Explore how different cultures celebrate. Mid-Autumn traditions are not all the same! Explore Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival traditions, Vietnamese Tết Trung Thu, and Korean Chuseok. This children's Mid-Autumn Festival reading collection includes books representing several different traditions.
- Moon Festival Concert at Fremont Main Library
Saturday, September 26 | 2:00–3:00 PM | FREE
Enjoy an afternoon of Chinese music performed by the Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, including traditional instruments, folk songs, solos and ensemble performances.
Location: Fremont Main Library
Link: Event information
Enjoy an afternoon of Chinese music performed by the Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, including traditional instruments, folk songs, solos and ensemble performances.
Location: Fremont Main Library
Link: Event information
- Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
This one is especially great for kids! Families can see lion dance performances, make playdough mooncakes and lanterns, and hear a special Mid-Autumn Festival story.
Link: Event details and tickets
This one is especially great for kids! Families can see lion dance performances, make playdough mooncakes and lanterns, and hear a special Mid-Autumn Festival story.
Link: Event details and tickets
- Mid-Autumn Festival at Grand Century Mall
Saturday, September 26 | Beginning at 4:00 PM
Celebrate Tết Trung Thu with lanterns, performances, games, food, storytelling and activities centered on Vietnamese Mid-Autumn traditions.
Link: Festival information
Celebrate Tết Trung Thu with lanterns, performances, games, food, storytelling and activities centered on Vietnamese Mid-Autumn traditions.
Link: Festival information
- Mid-Autumn Celebration & Tea Ceremony in Hayward
Sunday, September 27 | 3:00–5:00 PM
California Revels is hosting a multigenerational celebration featuring songs, traditional lanterns, mooncakes and a special tea ceremony. Children are free; a $20 donation is suggested for adults.
Link - Celebration details
California Revels is hosting a multigenerational celebration featuring songs, traditional lanterns, mooncakes and a special tea ceremony. Children are free; a $20 donation is suggested for adults.
Link - Celebration details
- FREE Mid-Autumn Festival at CPAA Arts Center
Sunday, September 27 | 4:30–7:30 PM | FREE
Enjoy Chinese classical dance, traditional instrumental music, hands-on family crafts, mooncake tasting, vendors and more.
Link - Festival information
Enjoy Chinese classical dance, traditional instrumental music, hands-on family crafts, mooncake tasting, vendors and more.
Link - Festival information
Share Your Family’s Story! CLICK HERE
Does your family celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tết Trung Thu, Chuseok, or another tradition connected to this time of year? We’d love to learn from you! Your responses may help us celebrate and learn about the traditions represented across our INDY community.
However you celebrate, we hope our INDY families enjoy an opportunity to learn something new, spend time together, and look up at the same moon!
[Friday, Sep 25 at 10:24 AM]
If you're having difficulties accessing the links, the direct URLs are pasted below. It looks like the children’s book list we originally shared is not currently active. Here are two great alternatives with books for children and families to explore:
--Alameda County Library Mid-Autumn Festival Book List:
https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/2169125809/2853839357
--Tacoma Public Library Mid-Autumn Festival Book List:
https://tacoma.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/515946020/2846473357
Also, here's another awesome event recommended by the Chang Family (current 3rd and 6th graders) (Thank you!): Bay Area Chuseok Festival: Hosted by Korean Center, Inc. (KCI) and the 8th annual celebration of Korean culture, food, music, performance, and community. Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 11 AM–4 PM | Presidio Main Parade Lawn | Free Admission
https://koreancentersf.org/chuseok-festival/chuseok-festival-2026/
Previous links:
Smithsonian Moon Festival resources:
https://asia.si.edu/education/educator-resources/teaching-china-with-the-smithsonian/videos/moon-festival/
Smithsonian family craft ideas:
https://festival.si.edu/blog/2014/a-folklife-festival-guide-for-kids/
Smithsonian Moon Festival video / Story of Hou Yi:
https://www.si.edu/object/moon-festival%3Ayt_j7Tu9IZJ9Ic
Fremont Main Library Moon Festival Concert:
https://www.510families.com/calendar/moon-festival-concert/
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose Mid-Autumn Moon Festival:
https://www.cdm.org/event/mid-autumn-moon-festival/
Grand Century Mall Mid-Autumn Festival:
https://www.sanjose.org/events/mid-autumn-festival-bay-area
California Revels Mid-Autumn Celebration & Tea Ceremony:
https://californiarevels.org/upnext/midautumn
CPAA Arts Center Mid-Autumn Festival:
https://www.cpaasv.org/events/mid-autumn-festival-2026