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 2023 in Singapore
Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. In 2023, it falls on 29 September 2023 (Friday).
Things to do to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 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 Chinese tea.
We have curated a list of things you can do with your friends, families, and loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival 2023:
- Lantern displays & light-ups
- Lights by the Lake (Jurong Lake Gardens) – Free
- Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations (Chinatown) – Free
- Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 (Marina Bay) – Free
- Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival (Toa Payoh) – Free
- Festive activities & cultural performances
- Moon Rabbits 2023 (Yishun) – Free
- Mid-Autumn Family Fun 2023 (Tanjong Pagar) – Free
- Singapore Hokkien Lam Ann Festival (Fort Canning) – Free
- One Upon a Full Moon Concert 2023 (Vivocity) – SGD 5 per person
Lantern displays & festive activities during Mooncake Festival 2023
Starting from two weeks before Mid-Autumn Festival each year, lantern displays will be set up at various prominent locations across Singapore by governments or private companies.
Admission may be free or ticketed, depending on the location.
Visiting lantern displays is a must-do activity for Singaporeans, local residents, or tourists celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The displays differ from year to year and will incorporate both traditional and creative elements. Apart from the displays, there will also be cultural games and activities, lantern riddles, and performances associated with the mooncake festival. The following are the four major lantern displays in Singapore this year:
- Date: 16 September – 1 October 2023
- Time: 7:00pm – 11:00pm
- Venue: Jurong Lake Gardens
- Address: Yuan Ching Road [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (EW26) Lakeside – 1.7km or 21-minute walk
Photos via National Parks Board / Website
Other Mooncake Festival Activities at Jurong Lake Gardens
- Lantern Riddles
- Food Fair
- Arts@JLG: Music under the Moonlight 2023
- Music Oasis by Singapore Chinese Orchestra
- Nagomi Art Try-out
- Dragonboat Try-out
- Kayak Try-out
- Pedal Boat Try-out
- Zumba Fitness
- Leather Craft Workshop
- Terrarium Making Workshop
- Adopt a Lantern
Click here to learn more about these activities.
- Date: 15 September – 14 October 2023
- Time: 7:00pm – 12:00am
- Venue: Chinatown
- Address: Eu Tong Sen Street / North Bridge Road [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (DT19/NE4) Chinatown
Photos via Chinatown Festivals / Facebook
Other Mooncake Festival Activities in Chinatown
- Food fair at Chinatown Food Street
- Festival fair beside OG People’s Park
- Stage performances at Kreta Ayer Square
- Lantern painting competition
- Lantern walk from Chinatown Point to Kreta Ayer Square
Click here to learn more about these activities.
- Date: 15 September – 1 October 2023
- Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
- Venue: Gardens by the Bay
- Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (CE1/DT16) Bayfront
Photos via Gardens by the Bay / Website
Other Mooncake Festival Activities in Gardens by the Bay
- Lantern Walk & Giveaway
- Food Street & Carnival Rides
- Cultural Performances
- Cultural Workshops
- Instagram Reels Workshop
Click here to learn more about these activities.
- Date: 29 August – 1 October 2023
- Time: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Venue: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
- Address: 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (NS19) Toa Payoh – 1.3km or 19-minute walk
- Note: While the installation at the lawn is open for visits for a month, most of the activities are held during the open house weekend on 23 & 24 September 2023.
Photos via Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall / Website & Facebook
Other Moon Festival Activities at Wan Qing Yuan Open House
- Family-oriented Craft & Cultural Workshops
- Storytelling Sessions
- Mooncake, Pomelo & Tea Tasting
- Public Talk
- Lantern Riddles Guessing Games
Click here to learn more about these activities.
Festive activities & cultural performances during Mooncake Festival 2023
Watch out for a series of exhibitions, festive activities, and musical and cultural performances held in commemoration of this special occasion by various governmental and social groups at various parts of Singapore.
These are the activities you may consider participating in this Moon Festival:
- Dance and music performances by local art group Arts Fission, ercussion group Reverberance, children dancers from Young Fission Benefit and and senior performers from NTUC Senior Activity Centre.
- Date: 29 – 30 September 2023
- Time: 7:00pm – 7:30pm | 8:15pm – 8:45pm
- Venue: Yishun Pond Park Promenade / Beside Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
- Address: 90 Yishun Central, Singapore 768828 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (NS13) Yishun
- Organised by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), a series of exhibitions and activities have been scheduled to encourage families to celebrate the Mid-Autumn traditions with a modern twist.
- Date: 29 September – 1 October 2023
- Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC)
- Time: 10:00am – 10:00pm
- Address: 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station:(EW15) Tanjong Pagar
Photos via Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) / Website
Other Mooncake Festival Activities at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
- The Autumn Fair (featuring over 50 creative makers of handmade crafts, fashion accessories and art pieces)
- Lantern Riddles
- Mid-Autumn 兔gether Art Installation
- Lantern Walk
- Stargazing at Rooftop
- Permanent and special exhibitions
Click here to learn more about these activities.
- In commemoration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first day of the Hokkien culture festival will include traditional festive activities such as riddle guessing games, lantern painting and mooncake making workshops. A food and product fair featuring Lam Ann snacks and crafts will also be held on the side.
- Date: 29 September 2023
- Time: 11:00am – 9:00pm
- Venue: Singapore Lam Ann Association Building
- Address: 30 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238974 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (DT20) Fort Canning
Click here to learn more about these activities.
- Musical performance held in conjunction with the Mooncake Festival. The concert features popular tunes from Studio Ghibli animations, box-office smashing movie The Greatest Showman, theme song of classic Journey to the West 西游记 TV series, and more.
- Date: 29 September – 1 October 2023
- Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
- Venue: VivoCity Roof Top
- Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585 [Map]
- Nearest MRT station: (CC29/NE1) Harbourfront
Click here for more details about the concert venue and tickets.
