What is Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), also known as Mooncake Festival or Lantern Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival that dates back to the Shang dynasty more than 3,000 years ago.
This occasion was originally created to celebrate harvest on the autumn full moon in the ancient days. As time evolves, it is now an important day for friends and families to gather as a symbol of harmony and unity.
The Mid-Autumn festival is one of the major holidays celebrated in China along with the Lunar New Year and Labour Day. There will be three days of public holiday for this festival in China. However, in Singapore, this day is not a gazetted public holiday.
When is Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in Singapore
Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. In 2024, it falls on 17 September 2024 (Tuesday).
Things to do to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in Singapore
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Singapore is never complete without lanterns and mooncakes. That’s why it is also known as Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.
There will be numerous lantern displays all around the city-state for photo-taking. Families with kids will gather in the park to carry lighted lanterns while consuming mooncakes and sipping Chinese tea.
We have curated a list of things you can do with your friends, families, and loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival 2024:
| Event (Location) | Dates | Price (Ticketed / Walk-in) |
| Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 (Novena / Toa Payoh / Farrer Park) | 20 August 2024 – 15 September 2024 | Free – S$48 (Walk-in & Ticketed) |
| Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations 2024 (Chinatown) | 30 August 2024 – 2 October 2024 | Free – S$5 (Walk-in & Ticketed) |
| Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 (Marina Bay) | 4 – 22 September 2024 | Free – S$38 (Walk-in & Ticketed) |
| Mid-Autumn Family Fun 2024 (Shenton Way / Tanjong Pagar) | 7 – 8 September 2024 | Free – S$54.50 (Walk-in & Ticketed) |
| Lights by the Lake 2024 (Jurong / Lakeside / Chinese Gardens) | 8 – 22 September 2024 | Free (Walk-in) |
| Once Upon A Full Moon Concert 2024 (HarbourFront) | 13 – 15 September 2024 | S$5 (Ticketed) |
| Shuang Lin Monastery Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration 2024 (Toa Payoh) | 13 – 17 September 2024 | Free – S$25 (Walk-in & Ticketed) |
| Our Tampines Hub (OTH) Mid-Autumn Celebrations 2024 (Tampines) | 15 September 2024 | Free (Walk-in) |
| Mid-Autumn Moonwalk at Hub & Spoke 2024 (Changi Airport) | 8 September & 15 September 2024 | S$12 – S$16 (Ticketed) |
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2024
This year’s Mooncake Festival at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, themed as the Wan Qing Closing Fest, will be one of the largest ever before the hall closes for renovation. Admission to the Moonlit Legends installation on its lawn, featuring character-shaped lanterns, is free.
The festival’s main highlights on 14 – 15 September 2024 will include a variety of free cultural and educational activities, such as the Moonlit Memories performance in Mandarin, storytelling sessions, a lantern decorating station, Mid-Autumn mini games and lantern riddle guessing activity. Additionally, there will be ticketed workshops like Chinese Mythology Wooden Stick Figure Painting, Snowskin Mooncake Making, Tuanshan Hand Fan Crafting and Paper Making.
- Venue: Wan Qing Yuan / Sun Yet-sen Memorial Hall (SYMH) [Map]
- Date: 20 August 2024 – 15 September 2024 (Tuesday – Sunday)
- Time: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (NS20) Novena
- Price: Free – S$48 per pair
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations 2024
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Singapore’s Chinatown comes alive with vibrant street decorations. This year, visitors can immerse themselves in the cultural spirit with lantern displays and illuminated streets.
In addition to the light decorations, there will be a range of activities starting from daytime, including a festive fair, lantern painting competitions and cultural performances.
- Venue: Chinatown Singapore [Map]
- Date: 30 August 2024 – 2 October 2024 (Friday – Wednesday)
- Time: 7:00pm – 12:00am (Street Light-up)
- Nearest MRT station: (NE4|DT19) Chinatown
- Price: Free – S$5 per person
Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival 2024
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay, where stunning lantern displays inspired by Chinese mythology and nostalgic Singaporean scenes, including classic dragon-themed playgrounds from HDB neighborhoods, will light up the night.
This event is a must-visit for families and friends eager to snap Instagram-worthy photos and make lasting memories. Highlights include a lantern walk, a spectacular flower carpet exhibit, a food street, carnival rides, and live performances.
- Venue: Gardens by the Bay (GBTB) [Map]
- Date: 4 September 2024 – 22 September 2024 (Wednesday – Sunday)
- Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (CE1|DT16) Bayfront
- Price: Free – S$38 per person
Lights by the Lake 2024
For residents of western Singapore, Lights by the Lake is an unmissable event. Beyond its enchanting lantern displays and captivating light projection shows across the expansive garden, the event offers a variety of activities, including traditional dance and music performances, lantern riddles, open-air movie screenings, a food fair, and carnival games and rides. It’s a perfect outing for adults and families with children alike.
Photos via National Parks Board (NParks) / Facebook
- Venue: Jurong Lake Gardens [Map]
- Date: 8 September 2024 – 22 September 2024 (Sunday – Sunday)
- Time: 6:30pm – 10:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (EW25) Chinese Garden
- Price: Free
Mid-Autumn Family Fun 2024
The Mid-Autumn Family Fun 2024 at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre offers a range of family-friendly events and activities perfect for families with kids. Enjoy a mix of free and ticketed activities designed to keep everyone entertained.
The first 250 visitors during each hourly slot from 1pm to 7pm will receive complimentary mooncake sponges. Additionally, you can enjoy free Old Chang Kee snacks after completing a survey and earn a mystery gift by filling up your stamp card at all seven game booths.
- Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) [Map]
- Date: 7 – 8 September 2024 (Saturday – Sunday)
- Time: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (TE19) Shenton Way
- Price: Free
Once Upon A Full Moon Concert 2024
Taking place at the Vivocity Amphitheatre, the Once Upon A Full Moon Concert is a perfect Mid-Autumn musical event to enjoy with your parents. Now in its 5th edition, the concert will feature original compositions by the TENG Ensemble, along with performances by singers Charlie Lim, Clarissa See, and Claudia Xie.
- Venue: Vivocity [Map]
- Date: 13 – 15 September 2024 (Friday – Sunday)
- Time: 7:30pm – 8:45pm
- Nearest MRT station: (NE1|CC29) HarbourFront
- Price: S$5
Shuang Lin Monastery Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration 2024
Organised in collaboration with Toa Payoh East CCC, this Mid-Autumn Festival event transcends traditional Chinese celebrations. It not only features classic Chinese performances, including a Chinese orchestra, Teochew opera, face-changing shows, and lion and dragon dances, but also highlights cultural acts from other communities, such as Malay Kompang and Bharatanatyam Indian dance. Additionally, the event will showcase vibrant community performances by children, youths, and mummies.
Key highlights of the event include Weiqi and Chinese chess competitions, a Mid-Autumn charity fair, a Buddhist music concert, and a carnival with a variety of food, engaging games and an inflatable bouncy castle for children.
- Venue: Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery 莲山双林禅寺 [Map]
- Date: 13 – 17 September 2024 (Friday – Tuesday)
- Time: 6:30pm – 10:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (NS19) Toa Payoh
- Price: Free – S$25 per person
- Note: The hours listed above apply to general activities. Special events will begin earlier.
Our Tampines Hub (OTH) Mid-Autumn Celebrations 2024
Easties can celebrate the festival closer to home at Our Tampines Hub on 15 September 2024 (Sunday). The festivities will kick off with a concert at the Festive Plaza (Atrium) from 7:00pm, hosted by Mediacorp artiste Jeff Goh.
Enjoy live performances by 8 notable artistes including Xiao Feng Feng 小凤凤, Fang Ning 方宁, Jessie Yeong 杨千荭, Yuan Jin 袁瑾, Eric 杜鑫, Huang Hao Feng 黄浩峰, Jenvent Ng 温丝婷 and Venessa 黄嘉雯.
Starting at 8:00pm, free lanterns will be distributed at Festive Walk East. Children and residents are invited to use them for a lantern walk in the area, continuing a cherished Mid-Autumn Festival tradition.
Photos via Our Tampines Hub (OTH) / Facebook
- Venue: Festive Plaza, Our Tampines Hub, Level 1 [Map]
- Date: 15 September 2024 (Sunday)
- Time: 7:00pm onwards
- Nearest MRT station: (DT32|EW2) Tampines
- Price: Free
Mid-Autumn Moonwalk at Hub & Spoke 2024
For families with young children looking for a more intimate experience away from the crowds, a lantern walk along the Changi Jurassic Mile, just outside Changi Airport Terminal 2, is a perfect choice this Mid-Autumn Festival. Children can craft their own lanterns with help from their parents and then enjoy a magical evening stroll under the stars, amidst life-sized dinosaurs.
Photos via Changi Airport / Website
- Venue: Outdoor Hub & Spoke Cafe, Terminal 2, Changi Airport [Map]
- Date: 8 & 15 September 2024 (Sunday)
- Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Nearest MRT station: (CG2) Changi Airport
- Price: (Adult) S$12 (Child – 4 to 12 years old) S$16
- Note: Child ticket includes a DIY lantern-making kit.
