This fall, Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum is inviting families and friends to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a weekend full of cultural programming, crafts, and tasty treats.
On Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 2025, the museum will come alive with activities that honour one of the most beloved holidays in Chinese culture. From mooncake sampling to sci-fi–inspired Mid-Autumn lantern-making workshops, the event offers something for all ages to enjoy, whether you’re discovering Mid-Autumn traditions for the first time or reliving them with your family.
Why the Mid-Autumn Festival Matters
The Mid-Autumn Festival, sometimes called the Moon Festival, is one of the most celebrated holidays across Chinese communities worldwide. Traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, it’s a time for families to gather, admire the full moon, and share food, especially mooncakes.
At its heart, the festival is about togetherness. It’s a chance to reflect on family, community, and cultural roots, which makes the museum’s programming the perfect setting for Vancouverites to experience this tradition in Chinatown.
Mooncakes, Stories, and Cultural Connections
One of the highlight of the weekend at the museum will be a short presentation on the history and meaning of mooncakes, followed by a trilingual storytime of Mooncakes Mean Family by Benson Shum, a Chinese Canadian author and illustrator.
After storytime, guests will get to sample mooncakes, a sweet treat that has become synonymous with the festival. Often filled with lotus seed paste, red bean, or custard, mooncakes symbolize unity and harmony when shared among family and friends.
Storytime and mooncake sampling will take place twice daily at 11:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M., giving plenty of opportunities for families to join in.
Crafts and Curator Tours
The museum is also offering a special Mid-Autumn edition of its Curators and Crafts program. This family-friendly format pairs curator-led tours of the museum’s exhibitions with hands-on art activities.
Visitors can join Dream Factory: Cantopop, Mandopop 1980s–2000 curator tours at 1 P.M. (English) and 3 P.M. (Cantonese on Saturday, Mandarin on Sunday). The exhibition explores the rise of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop music and its cultural influence, blending nostalgia with multimedia installations.
After the tour, drop by the craft workshop to make your own sci-fi–inspired Mid-Autumn lantern. This year’s design draws inspiration from artist Ming Wong’s Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies installation in Dream Factory. Kids (and adults!) can build their very own UFO spaceship lantern, a fun, futuristic spin on the traditional Mid-Autumn lantern.
Crafts run from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M., and supplies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event Details
- Dates: Saturday, October 4 & Sunday, October 5, 2025
- Location: Chinese Canadian Museum (51 E Pender St., Vancouver)
- Cost: Included with museum admission
- Schedule Highlights:
- 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. – Drop-in Crafts
- 11:30 A.M. & 1:30 P.M. – Storytime + Mooncake Sampling
- 1 P.M. – Curator Tour (English)
- 3 P.M. – Curator Tour (Cantonese on Oct. 4, Mandarin on Oct. 5)
Registration is recommended, sign up through the museum’s website.
More Family Programming Ahead
The Mid-Autumn celebration is part of the museum’s Chinese Canadian Connects series, a monthly program designed to engage families with interactive workshops and cultural experiences. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for November 22 and December 20, 2025.
With each program, the museum builds on its mission to connect history and heritage with today’s communities in fun and meaningful ways.
Celebrate Together in Chinatown
Whether you’re there for the mooncakes, the crafts, or the exhibitions, the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Chinese Canadian Museum promises a day full of discovery and connection. Bring your family, meet new friends, and experience one of the most cherished holidays in Chinese culture right in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown.
For full details and registration, visit ChineseCanadianMuseum.ca.
