From PhillyVoice · · 1m 50s
Chinatown's Mid-Autumn Festival turns 31
Lion dances, mooncakes and a lantern parade take over 10th Street on Sept. 26, run largely by teenagers.
In brief
Lion dances, mooncakes and a lantern parade take over 10th Street on Sept. 26, run largely by teenagers. A festival built by middle schoolers in 1996 now draws 7,500 people a year, and it doubles as a stand for a neighborhood fighting to stay put. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
Chinatown throws a street party
On Saturday, Sept. 26, Philadelphia's Chinatown celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with lion dances, Chinese opera, martial arts, carnival games and a lantern parade.
Noon to 8 on 10th Street
The 31st annual street festival runs from noon to 8 p.m. along 10th Street, near the Chinatown Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch.
Free art, paid games
Families can make art for free and play carnival games pay-as-you-go. Organizers have not listed a general admission charge.
There is a mooncake contest
Among the day's events is a mooncake-eating contest, alongside performances from artists and food donated by Chinatown restaurants.
Middle schoolers started it
Asian Americans United launched the festival in 1996 with local middle school students, giving Chinese Americans in Philadelphia a way to mark the holiday when they could not travel to China to see family.
Teenagers still run it
More than 300 high school volunteers take part. Youth and young adults spend months coordinating performances, games, art activities, fundraising and volunteer operations.
“Youth and young adults spend months helping coordinate the performances, games, art activities, fundraising and volunteer operations.”
7,500 people show up
Organizers put annual attendance around 7,500. Restaurants donate food, artists perform, and local businesses chip in to support the day.
Lanterns under the harvest moon
The holiday is traditionally about families gathering to give thanks under the harvest moon. Lanterns, its most recognizable symbol, get carried through Chinatown in the evening parade.
A neighborhood under pressure
The celebration carries extra weight as residents and community groups fight to preserve Chinatown, named one of Philadelphia's most endangered historic places in 2023.
The bottom line
A festival built by middle schoolers in 1996 now draws 7,500 people a year, and it doubles as a stand for a neighborhood fighting to stay put.
