A centuries-old tradition in Asian communities is to gather this time of year for a celebration of harvest and giving thanks, and the Irvine community participated Friday night with a Mid-Autumn festival at the Great Park.
Mid-Autumn Festivals, also often called Moon Festivals, celebrate the full moon and harvest during the Chinese Lunar Year’s eighth month. This year, that day falls on Sept. 17. Traditionally, mooncakes are enjoyed along with special performances, and lanterns are lit in the moon’s honor. Often the activities are done as families, as the full moon symbolizes completeness.
A member of the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Families take photos in the Moon Tunnel during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of Kishin Daiko performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jennifer Chu and her children Elenora, 7, left, Eliot, 6, watch performances on the stage during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thousands attend the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Children stand near the stage to watch the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California perform during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People gather around the stage to watch performances during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A child dances to the beating drums of the Kishin Daiko during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pournima Navalkele, left, takes a photo of her daughter Nandini Chiwane, 10, next to the Moon Tunnel at the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A member of the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Attendees to the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 take photos as the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs on the main stage. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Families watch as the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs on the main stage during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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A member of the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Irvine organizers also said performances planned for the festival represented a variety of Asian cultures and included the Kishin Daiko Japanese drumming group, Thai fruit carving, and the South Coast YoYo Team.
Missed Irvine’s celebration? Here are a few other Moon Festivals being hosted in Orange County this weekend and later.
Fountain Valley: First District Supervisor Andrew Do’s office is hosting its annual festival in Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sept 14. It will feature food vendors, free mooncakes, traditional lanterns, balloon animals and face painting, as well as live performances.
Stanton: Senator Josh Newman’s office with local leaders will hold a Mid-Autumn Festival from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 15 at Stanton Central Park. This is the event’s fifth year. It will feature snacks, lanterns for participants, performances and mooncakes.
Santa Ana: The city will hold a Mid-Autumn Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Centennial Park. It will have many activities, including a lion dance and other performances, a kids zone and a fashion show. Starting at 5 p.m., moon cakes and lanterns will be distributed while supplies last.
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