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Chinatown In Los Angeles Celebrates Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Chinatown Moon Festival

Los Angeles Chinatown celebrates its 76th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on September 13th, 2014. The Moon Festival, known as the Zhongqiu Festival in China, is a harvest celebration dating back over 3,000 years. Traditionally, farmers celebrated a bountiful harvest by gathering family and friends to admire the bright harvest moon and eat moon cakes.

New Chinatown’s first Moon Festival was originally a fundraiser for WWII relief efforts, and has evolved over the years, fusing traditional ceremonies with modern activities. Since the first Moon Festival in 1938, the annual tradition marks a popular cultural highlight. The 76th Annual Moon Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13th, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. takes place in Chinatown’s Central and West Plaza.

Music lovers can immerse themselves with great local bands on the LA Weekly Stage featuring Run Things, The Singles, SD3 (featuring The Cary Brothers), Beat Club, Dorothy, and Craft Kings while sipping delicious local beers in the adjacent Craft Beer Garden. DJs spin hot mixes at the KCRW Main Stage where the crowd rallies on the open-air dance floor all night long.

Children of all ages can enjoy Calligraphy and Lantern-Making craft workshops or learn history and culture centered on the traditions of the Moon Festival with storytelling and traditional artisans. Foodies will be delighted as Chinatown’s best chefs demonstrate their prowess utilizing an exciting outdoor kitchen stage —audience members get to taste the completed dishes. Also at the Culinary Stage, Chinatown’s favorite bakeries will sample a variety of different moon cakes. Still hungry? Treat yourself to an amazing line-up of food trucks, exotic street vendors, or of course your favorite Chinatown restaurants.

As the moon rises, attendees will have the opportunity to view the moon in greater detail using state-of-the-art telescopes provided by Griffith Observatory. Volunteer Guides from the Observatory will provide insight and knowledge into telescope technology and the science of Outer Space.

The 76th Annual Moon Festival is free for all ages 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 visit: www.chinatownla.com.

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