Lanterns, Mooncakes and Lion Dances: it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival

02/10/2009

Celebrate the arrival of the harvest moon in Chinatown with dance, music, great food and more

This month, London’s Chinatown is lit up by thousands of red lanterns to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival, the traditional celebration at which Chinese people have gathered for centuries to celebrate the end of the summer harvest and admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon.

The second most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, the festival sees the people of Chinatown – the hub of London’s Chinese community - come together to eat festive mooncakes and grapefruit-like pomeloes, and to enjoy traditional dance and music in one of the biggest festival celebrations outside of China.

The Mid-Autumn festival is free of charge and open to everyone who wants to come and enjoy Chinese culture and history in the heart of London. If you’re planning a visit, the best day to come is Sunday 11th, when Gerrard Street will host an outdoor stage featuring a mix of traditional and modern entertainment including a Lion Dance, martial arts, Chinese traditional music, hip-hop dance and Hong Kong Canto-Pop. Elsewhere, you’ll find food tasting, candy and noodle-making classes and even a Chopsticks Challenge.

Make sure you stop for lunch as well: the London Restaurant Festival (8th-13th October) will be in full swing on the day, with more than 20 Chinatown restaurants offering mouth-watering special menus that’ll give you an authentic taste of the Far East at great prices.

Here’s a rundown of what’s on:

• 11:00
  Community Stalls Opens
• 12:50
  VIP Guests Arrival
• 13:00
  Opening Ceremony
• 13:05
  Lions Dance
• 13:20
  Welcome Speeches
• 13:30
  Cultural Performance
  Spectrum Radio DJ Giveaway
  Exodus Hip Hop Dance
  Martial Arts Display
  Hong Kong Canto Pop
  Traditional Chinese Dance
• 15:00
  Chinese Cookery Display
• 16:00
  Cultural Performance
  Traditional Chinese Music
  Golden Chinese Melodies
  Moon Festival Celebration Dance
• 17:00
  End