Every fall, Chinatowns around the world celebrate zhongqiu, or the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a 3,000-year-old celebration. Los Angeles’ Chinatown is no different, and this year on Saturday, Sept. 21, the cultural district is celebrating 75 years of harvest moons with a full lineup of food, music, and festivities. 

Los Angeles’ original Chinatown was demolished to make way for Union Station. To fill the void, University of Southern California alum and engineer Peter Soo-Hoo worked with designers to create the current Chinatown centered on Broadway. The “New Chinatown” opened for business on June 25, 1938, a few months ahead of the harvest festival. 

Seventy-five years later, both Chinatown and the festival are going strong. The free annual event includes lion dancing, acrobats and martial arts demonstrations. This year it features some new attractions, like a performing Capuchin monkey and a “New Chinatown” photo booth with a vintage 1940s theme. 

Live music will kick off the event at 5 p.m. on the LA WEEKLY stage and runs until the festival’s close (midnight). Artisans will demonstrate traditional disciplines like calligraphy and sculpture, and the Griffith Observatory provides telescopes for harvest moon viewing. Chinese food will be available in “Street Food Alley” on Bamboo Lane, and some of L.A.’s gourmet food trucks will be serving up dessert, tacos, crepes and other treats. Free moon cake samples from Chinatown’s bakeries will also be available throughout the night. 

Chinatown’s central plaza is located in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway and Hill Street between Bamboo Lane and College Street. Parking is available at downtown lots and the Metro Gold Line stop at Chinatown Station is a short walk from the festival.

Full details, including a schedule and list of vendors and performers, is available at www.ChinatownLA.com.

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