Mid-Autumn Festival Carnival to celebrate Chinese cultural heritage

Published 1:30 pm Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Special to the Reporter

The Mercer Island Chinese Association (MICA) and the city of Mercer Island will host their annual Mid-Autumn Festival Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

This free, family-friendly event invites the entire community to experience the rich traditions and joyful spirit of one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture.

The festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a centuries-old harvest celebration centered around themes of gratitude, family reunion and harmony. The Mercer Island carnival brings these values to life with a vibrant program designed to engage attendees of all ages and backgrounds.

“The Mid-Autumn Festival is about sharing joy and abundance with our community,” said Fan Yuan, the president of MICA. “We’ve created an event where everyone, whether they grew up with these traditions or are experiencing them for the first time, can learn, connect, and create wonderful memories together under the autumn moon.”

The carnival will feature a diverse schedule of activities and attractions, including:

* Cultural performances: Dynamic traditional kung fu demonstrations, elegant fan dances and melodic musical performances.

* Hands-on workshops: Interactive stations for mooncake decorating, lantern making and Chinese calligraphy.

* Traditional games: Family-friendly carnival games with a cultural twist, such as solving riddles attached to lanterns.

* Culinary traditions: Guests can savor authentic mooncakes — the iconic pastry of the festival — participate in tea tasting and enjoy other seasonal treats.

Attendees are encouraged to wear traditional Chinese attire to immerse themselves fully in the festive spirit.

* Registration link: https://www.michinese.org/post/register-now-to-get-your-tickets-for-the-2025-mercer-island-mid-autumn-festival-carnival