Here is a list of the many Orange County Moon and Mid-Autumn festivals, events and activities taking place this fall throughout the OC.
The annual Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, is a traditional celebration that dates back thousands of years and marks an important cultural event for Orange County’s East Asian-American communities including Vietnamese and Chinese.
Traditionally, moon festivals are celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. The 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) falls on Tuesday, September 17. Most Orange County festivities are planned on a weekend date around that time.
Local Moon Festivals & Mid-Autumn Festivals
OC Moon Festival at Mile Square Park
Mile Square Regional Park | Freedom Hall Lawn
16801 Euclid Street Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Enter Mile Square Regional Park off of Edinger or Ward
Date: No date announced
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
September 7 Update: No announcement has been made for this event this and at this point there most likely is no OC Moon festival at Mile Square Park planned. See below for other moon festivals to attend.
The annual OC Moon festival celebration typically takes place at the Freedom Hall Lawn at Mile Square Park. This free, family-friendly festival features food vendors, face painting, balloon animals, live entertainment, children’s activities, and free moon cakes and lanterns for kids.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival/Lễ Hội Trung Thu
Hope Community Services, Santa Ana
Friday, September 6, 2024
Hope Community Service puts on a Vietnamese Culture Festival filled with food, games, and performances.
Asian Garden Mall
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Little Saigon TV is hosting its annual Moon Lantern Festival with live entertainment, games and food. Admission and parking is free.
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Enjoy traditional music, dance, free face painting, art projects, and moon cake samples for the entire family.
Orange County Great Park Irvine
Friday, September 13, 2024
Explore unique cultural displays and discover valuable resources provided by local community organizations. This family-friendly festival will feature educational displays, live entertainment, crafts, specialty food trucks, artistic demonstrations, and more.
Stanton Central Park
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Bring your family and friends and enjoy the traditional live performances, plus complimentary lanterns, snacks, and, of course, delicious mooncakes.
Westminster Senior Center
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Embrace the rich cultural heritage of the Moon Festival with a memorable celebration.
Newport Beach Civic Center
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Enjoy a boba bar, tasty food, beverages and moon cakes at this moon festival mixer.
Harvest Moon Celebration – Boots & Bling
Tanaka Farms
Friday, September 20, 2024
Enjoy an evening of fun and fine fare, regional delights and a memorable evening of music and a selection of craft beer and wine, all enjoyed from an incredible hilltop venue.
Centennial Park, Santa Ana
Saturday, October 5, 2024
This free and family-friendly event highlights Asian cultures and the Vietnamese members with a celebration of the fall harvest and full moon.
Mid-Autumn Children’s Festival/Vui Tet Trung Thu
14452 Chestnut St, Westminster, CA
Sunday, September 15, 2024
About Moon Festivals
The annual Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a traditional Asian celebration that typically falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, when the moon is though to be at its fullest and brightest. The festival holds great cultural significance in countries such as China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
On this day, families gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty, offer prayers for good harvests and prosperity, and share delicious mooncakes—round pastries filled with sweet fillings that symbolize unity and togetherness. Lanterns are seen as symbolic beacons that light the path to prosperity and good fortune. They play an integral role in the festival, illuminating the night with their colorful glow in a multitude of different shapes and sizes. The Moon Festival showcases the importance of family, gratitude, and provides an opportunity to gather, reflect on the past, and give thanks for the harvest, or for harmonious unions.
In Vietnam, the Moon Festival (Tết Trung Thu) is the most important holiday after Vietnamese New Year. It is also known as the Children’s Festival due to the celebration’s emphasis on children. In ancient times, the Vietnamese believed children possessed the most direct link to the spiritual realm, making proximity to them a conduit for connecting with the divine. This tradition continues to be reflected in modern times, as most Vietnamese festival customs and activities are centered on or involve children, encompassing practices like gift-giving and the timeless art of traditional dragon dances.
Other regional festival names include Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, Eighth Month Festival, Festival of Unity, and Mooncake Festival. There are also similar or variant festivals held in other Asian countries such as Tsukimi in Japan or Chuseok in Korea.
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