Whether you call it the Moon Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival, this tradition celebrates the harvest season and the bright, full moon with lanterns of all shapes and sizes, mooncake desserts and an emphasis on reuniting with friends and family and giving thanks. The celebration originated in China around 3,000 years ago and is today celebrated throughout East and Southeast Asia — as well as around the world. Here’s where to experience it in the Bay Area this year.
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Millbrae Mid-Autumn Festival: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 20, 200-400 Broadway, Millbrae. Street food, lion and dragon dances, arts and crafts and desserts await at this cultural street festival in keeping with the Chinese tradition celebrating mid-autumn. Free. eventbrite.com
2026 SF Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19-20 at Washington Street and Grant Avenue, San Francisco. Celebrate with a K-Pop dance contest, an array of music and dance performances — including shows from the Chinese Folk Dance Association and Oakland GaGa dance — plus a dumpling-eating contest and a dragon parade. moonfestival.org
San Jose Museum of Art Moon Festival: Noon-5:30 p.m. Sept. 19, 3200 Senter Road, San Jose. This children’s festival focuses on the Vietnamese moon festival of Tet Trung Thu and offers games and activities, including Vietnamese calligraphy and the chance to make your own sculpture inspired by tò he, a traditional toy and folk art form featuring colorful rice dough shaped into edible figurines. sjmusart.org/event/moon-festival-2026
Los Altos Mid-Autumn Festival: 1-4 p.m. Sept. 20, Los Altos History Museum, 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Join a celebration that’s been observed for over 3,000 years. The festival features face painting, activities like archery and beanbag tossing, a 3D sugar art printer and live music. $10 per person, but free for museum members, kids 12 and under and seniors 65 and up. losaltoshistory.org
Pacific Pearl Mid-Autumn Moon Festival: 1-3 p.m. Sept. 19, Pacific Pearl, 2693-2733 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton. Experience a lion dance, martial arts and family-friendly face painting, balloon art and crafts at this Pleasanton celebration. Free. contracosta.news
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OVCC Mid-Autumn Festival: Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 20, 655 International Blvd., Oakland. The Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual free Mid-Autumn Festival in Little Saigon, featuring small business vendors, cultural activities, family-friendly games and more. Free. eventbrite.com
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 26, Children’s Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. This kid-friendly event features a lion dance, playdough mooncake activities and a make-your-own lantern craft. $22 for adults and kids, free for infants and $20 for seniors. cdm.org/event/mid-autumn-moon-festival
SingaporeConnect Mid-Autumn Evening Social 2026: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 26, Montevideo Drive and Davona Drive, San Ramon. Enjoy mooncakes, other desserts, tea, chit-chat and lanterns at this event, featuring traditional cellophane lanterns imported from Malaysia. $5 for attendees 12 and up; kids are free. Lanterns are $12 each in a variety of animal shapes. singaporeconnect.org
California Revels Mid-Autumn Festival and Tea Ceremony: 3-5 p.m. Sept. 27, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church, 22577 Bayview Ave., Hayward. Enjoy a bilingual celebration in English and Mandarin with songs, stories and dances from children’s music educator Vita Hsieh, along with a tea ceremony from Chih-Hui of Teance Fine Teas and a mooncake tasting. californiarevels.org/upnext/midautumn
Mid-Autumn Festival 2026: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Chinese Performing Arts of America, 6148 Bollinger Road, San Jose. Cultural performances, mooncake tastings and hands-on crafts highlight the lineup at this free, outdoor festival — plus, enter a raffle with a chance to earn items from Adriano’s. eventbrite.com
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