Philadelphia\u2019s Chinatown will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, with lion dances, Chinese opera, martial arts demonstrations, carnival games and a lantern parade.<\/p>\n
The 31st annual street festival is scheduled to run from noon-8 p.m. along 10th Street near the Chinatown Friendship Gate. Families can make art for free, play pay-as-you-go carnival games and watch the mooncake-eating contest. Organizers have not listed a general admission charge.<\/p>\n
Asian Americans United created the festival in 1996 with local middle school students. It offered Chinese Americans in Philadelphia a way to celebrate the holiday when they could not travel to China to be with family.<\/p>\n
Today, more than 300 high school volunteers participate. Youth and young adults spend months helping coordinate the performances, games, art activities, fundraising and volunteer operations.<\/p>\n
FIND MORE EVENTS HAPPENING NEAR YOUDiscover festivals, markets, family-friendly activities and other things to do throughout Philadelphia, South Jersey and the surrounding suburbs.Explore more events on PhillyVoice.com\/Events<\/a><\/p>\n Organizers say approximately 7,500 people attend each year. Chinatown restaurants donate food, artists perform and local businesses support the celebration.<\/p>\n The Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a time for families to gather and give thanks under the harvest moon. Lanterns, one of the holiday\u2019s most recognizable symbols, will be carried through Chinatown during the evening parade.<\/p>\n The festival carries added significance as residents and community groups work to preserve Chinatown, which was named one of Philadelphia\u2019s most endangered historic places in 2023.<\/p>\n 31st annual Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival<\/a><\/p>\n Sept. 26 | Noon-8 p.m. Find more upcoming events here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Chinatown
10th Street near the Friendship Gate
Philadelphia, PA 19107<\/p>\n