Moon Lantern Festival

Chinese and East Asian people all over the world will be celebrating the Moon Lantern or Mid Autumn Festival this weekend and London’s Chinatown is no different. The festival falls on the 15th day of the eight month of the Chinese Lunar calendar and its origins date back to moon worshipping between 1000-2000 BC. At that time of the year the moon is at its fullest and brighest, a time for the ancient Chinese to celebrate a succesful harvest.

It’s one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar along with their New Year celebrations and London’s Chinatown Chinese Association is organizing events this Sunday 30 September around the Gerrard Street area.

The festival runs from 11am-6pm and you’ll able to see performances by Chinese dragons and lions, as well as artists from China, a fantastic red and gold lantern display across the streets and an array of stalls selling all things Chinese. There’s also Chinese fan, lantern and painting workshops for children.

London’s Chinatown is based around Gerrard Street just off Shaftsbury Avenue, about 200 metres up from Piccadilly Circus Tube. Map