Your Insider Guide to the Mid-Autumn Festival and Parade
Celebrate the harvest season, eat mooncakes and gaze at the moon in Chinatown on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Get ready to light up the night! The Mid-Autumn Festival and Parade presented by Hawai‘i National Bank Foundation is back on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a full day of culture, entertainment and moonlit magic. You can look forward to lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional dishes, craft vendors, keiki activities and stargazing. This year, there will be two lantern-making workshops, so you can proudly carry your illuminated creation in the parade through Chinatown.
Often referred to as the Moon Festival, this Chinese holiday celebrates the conclusion of the fall harvest on the 15th day of the 8th lunar calendar month, corresponding with the full moon—this year, on Sept. 26. Loved ones usually come together to enjoy the moonlight, eat mooncakes and exchange well-wishes and greetings for good fortune.
The event is organized by Chinatown 808, a local nonprofit known for its lunar new year festival and dragon boat races. The organization aims to uplift Chinatown’s businesses and residents while breathing new life into the historic area through community programs.
Click to the info you want to explore:
SEE ALSO: Things to Do on Oahu in September 2026
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
When and Where
The Mid-Autumn Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St.
How Much It Costs
Admission is free. Most vendors will accept both cash and credit card payments.
Where to Park
Parking is available in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza main parking lot (100 N. Beretania St., entrance on Maunakea Street) for $2 for the first hour and $2 for each additional 30 minutes. Or pay the $5 evening flat rate if you enter after 6 p.m. There are additional municipal lots nearby as well as street parking.
Photo: Andrea Lee
What to Do
The lantern parade is the highlight of the day’s festivities. You’re invited to dress up in Chinese cultural costumes and carry your own homemade lantern as you march. The parade procession will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Hawai‘i National Bank main branch and continue up Maunakea Street towards Sun Yat-sen Mall. Sign up to participate.
Bring a lantern from home or register for one of two lantern-making workshops ($5) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can also enter your lantern in the lantern-making contest. Submissions will be accepted from 2 to 2:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. Register for the junior or open divisions for a chance to win a cash prize.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Families will stay entertained with keiki activities and a meet-and-greet with real bunnies. Once night falls, get a closer look at the moon and stars with help from Stargazers of Hawai‘i, who will set up a telescope on the second floor of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza from 6 to 10 p.m. You can also watch a packed schedule of live entertainment on the Moon Gate Stage with several dance troupes, martial arts groups and lion dances throughout the day and night.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
What to See
10:30 a.m. Lung Doo Benevolent Society
11 a.m. Festival Blessing
11:30 a.m. Ryugen Taiko
1:30 p.m. Mun Lun School
3 p.m. Peony Dance Group
4 p.m. Hawai‘i Lion Dance Association
5 p.m. Chinese Lion Dance Association
6 p.m. Sing Yung Dragon & Lion Dance Association
6:30 p.m. Parade
7 p.m. Gee Yung International Dragon & Lion Dance Association
9 p.m. Yeung Dak Physical Culture Association
Note: Times are subject to change.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
What to Eat & Buy
Don’t leave the festival without snacking on a traditional mooncake, a golden-brown pastry stuffed with a sweet or savory filling, representing reunion and togetherness. A selection of popular Chinese dishes will also be available for purchase. Plus, enjoy a variety of foods from local vendors, including potstickers, poke bowls, bubble tea and teppanyaki. You can also shop local crafts and cultural gifts.
Here’s a sampling of who will be there:
- Anastacia’s Pizza
- Andagi
- Blue Truck Teppanyaki
- Confections by Pakalana
- Dozers Donuts
- First Meet Studio
- Good Luck Gems
- Hawaiian Cane Juice
- Hawaiian Honey Cones
- HK Fashion
- Ho‘ohana Creations
- Hott Potstickers
- I am Tanukis
- Island Craves
- Judy Shop
- Kapa Moi Lions Club Shave Ice
- Legend Seafood Restaurant
- Mama Merce’s Kitchen
- Mini Munchiez
- Olay’s Thai Lao Express
- Simply 3D Prints
- Tamada Sweets
- Teapresso Bar
- Teddy Bear Mobile Hawai‘i
- The Henna Shack
- The OldTaku
- These Stuffed Cookies
- Treasures by Lokomai
- Twisted Pretzel
- UnitedHealthcare
- Yang’s
- Young’s ‘Ohana Mākeke
Tips
- Make your own lantern to show off during the parade. Here’s a tutorial using supplies you probably already have at home.
- It’s optional, but you’re encouraged to dress up in Chinese cultural costumes.
- The Mid-Autumn Festival is all about spending time together as a family, so make sure to capture the moment by snapping a picture in the photo booth with a celestial moon background.
- The best place to watch the parade is along Maunakea Street between King and Beretania Streets.
Mid-Autumn Festival, Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St., Chinatown, chinatown808.com, @chinatown808hi
Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
