SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
September 2019
Mid-Autumn Festival 2019: Celebrate with Luminous Lanterns, Cultural Performances and Sumptuous Reunions
It’s that time of year again to listen to fanciful stories about Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit. Or gaze at the moon while savouring mooncakes and tea. And for those of us who have little ones, is there anything more AWWWW than watching them carefully balancing their lanterns while strolling through the park? The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 falls on 13 September—and here are all the best places to be.
Mid-Autumn Festivities Celebrating Culture and Heritage
1. Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 at Gardens by the Bay
Take a stroll through a giant revolving lantern and watch the story of Chang’e and Hou Yi unfold from within. Measuring 30 metres in diameter, it’s one of 14 enthralling lantern sets at Gardens by the Bay this year. Among them, floating lanterns on Dragonfly Lake span a jaw-dropping 120+ metres, while 90 one-metre-tall lanterns illuminate Bayfront Plaza. Go on a mass lantern walk led by an LED dragon and stilt-walkers, watch cultural performances, and feast at the ever-popular food street.
When 30 August – 15 September, 7pm to 11pm
Where Gardens by the Bay
Admission Free
Web www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/midautumn
2. Chinatown’s Bicentennial Mid-Autumn Festival 2019
The Mid-Autumn Festival takes on Singapore’s Bicentennial for a one-of-a-kind celebration of our Chinese culture. You’ll find streets lined with Singaporean motifs and vibrant ribbon-style lanterns, and stage shows with lion dance performances every night. Take part in the mass lantern walk with larger-than-life LD mascots, and wander the festive bazaar. Finally, eat your way through a heritage hawker trail featuring 19 hawker stalls with over 30 years of history each!
When 31 August – 28 September
Where Chinatown
Admission Free (some activities are chargeable)
Web www.chinatownfestivals.sg
3. Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2019
At this year’s Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival, a luminescent outdoor art installation takes centrestage. Featuring over 250 stalks of sustainable “Moonflowers” that glow in the dark, it promises endless photo ops. Then witness three larger-than-life yet eco-friendly sky lanterns being ‘released’ into the moonlit sky. It’s part of an evening concert that also includes a laser show and cultural performances. During the day, learn to make your own “Moonflower”, sky lanterns, mooncakes and mooncake boxes, and more. Other fun activities include a digital treasure hunt, wishing tree, storytelling sessions, lantern riddles, carnival games and snack stations.
When 7 & 8 September, 10am to 9pm
Where Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Admission Free (some activities are chargeable)
Web www.sysnmh.org.sg
(See also: September School Holidays 2019: 26 Fun Events and Activities to Keep your Little Ones Busy)
4. Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s Mid-Autumn Yeah!
Tales and traditions of the season are brought to life through a series of exciting programmes. Plan a heist to break into the Moon Vault to find the secret recipe for the Divine Mooncake in an escape-room activity. Bring Chang’e to life with puppets and search for the Jade Rabbit. Go moongazing on the rooftop or through a series of planetarium shows. Let veteran getai singers entertain you alongside a symphony orchestra. Or concoct your very own cup of bubble tea while learning about tea traditions. There’s something for every member of the family!
When 13 September, 7pm to 10pm | 14 September, 1pm to 10pm
Where Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Admission Free (some activities are chargeable)
Web www.singaporeccc.org.sg
5. Esplanade presents Moonfest – A Mid-Autumn Celebration 2019
To encourage more families and the younger generation to experience the beauty of traditional Chinese arts, this year’s Moonfest will feature over 60 top-notch free performances and activities. These include xiqu (Chinese opera), dance, music, shadow puppetry, crosstalk, lantern riddles, and more. There will also be a series of ticketed parent-child workshops. Families can bond over learning about xiqu, shadow puppetry and Shaolin martial arts, or while making lanterns together. Don’t miss the Lantern Walkabout. You might even meet Chang’e, Jade Rabbit, Mr Mooncake and the Esplanade’s lovable mascot PIP!
When 13 – 15 September
Where Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Admission Free (some activities are chargeable)
Web www.esplanade.com/moonfest
6. Mid-Autumn Festival @ Jurong Lake Gardens
Go a journey to the west! Join characters from popular Chinese folklore at Jurong Lake Gardens as it transforms into a mythical world. Take part in two lantern walks happening in the gardens on 13 and 15 September. Bring along your own battery-operated (no candles allowed!) lanterns while LED dragons lead the way. Or make your own at the upcycling lantern workshops! You can also enjoy daily cultural performances and refuel at the night market offering a variety of food and drinks at the Wave Plaza.
When 6 – 15 September, 6pm to 11pm
Where Lakeside Garden, Jurong Lake Gardens
Admission Free
Web www.nparks.gov.sg
7. Moonstruck Mid-Autumn Festival @ Singapore Sports Hub
Even our country’s premier sporting arena is getting in on the mid-autumn act. Participate in hands-on activities from a lantern-making contest to taiji workshops. The kids will discover the legend of Chang’e in a storytelling session at the Sports Hub Library, followed by kid-friendly movie screenings at the Giant Chess Area. Then ready your lanterns for the Moonstruck Walk, the longest lantern walk of the Sports, Arts & Heritage trail. End the evening with a picnic and movie screening under the moonlit sky.
When 21 August – 19 September
Where Singapore Sports Hub
Admission Free (some activities are chargeable)
Web www.sportshub.com.sg/moonstruck
(See also: Groom Your Future Olympian at These Top Sports Academies for Kids)
More Mid-Autumn Family Fun at the Malls
8. VivoCity’s Curious Adventures in Wonderland
Embark on a whirlwind adventure of lights at VivoCity’s Sky Park on level three. Explore five whimsical zones inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, starting by going down the rabbit hole. Then rendezvous at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, run into the Queen’s card soldiers, and finally meet the Red Queen herself at a towering castle made of lanterns! Each week, 10 lucky players who join the Rabbit’s Quest, an augmented reality hunt, stand to win shopping vouchers.
When 31 August – 28 September
Where VivoCity
Admission Free
Web www.vivocity.com.sg
9. Celebrate sweet reunion with Sanrio characters at Jurong Point
Your favourite Sanrio characters are set to liven up Jurong Point and you know what that means—photo ops galore! Cinnamoroll, Gudetama, Kerokerokeroppi, Pompompurin, and of course, Hello Kitty are in town to greet you this mid-autumn. Expect giant inflatables, lantern installations, meet-and-greets, photobooths, and Sanrio plushie claw machines. On 13 September, take part in the lantern walkabout and hands-on activities, enjoy live cultural performances too.
When 16 August – 15 September
Where Jurong Point
Admission Free
Web www.jurongpoint.com.sg
10. Downtown East celebrates Mid-Autumn with Tayo The Little Bus
All aboard Tayo The Little Bus! Redeem a FREE limited-edition Tayo or Lani lantern when you purchase $30 worth of mooncakes from participating outlets from now till 13 September. Or get them at $5 each with a minimum spending of $30 ($60 at NTUC Fairprice) at Downtown East. Then bring your Tayo and Lani lanterns on a moonlit adven9. ture from Downtown East to Pasir Ris Park. The first 100 children who register enjoy complimentary mooncake and tea. There are also 10 Downtown East booklets worth $700+ each to be won!
When 13 September, 7.30pm to 9pm
Where Event Square @ E!Avenue Level 2, Downtown East
Admission Free
Web www.downtowneast.com.sg
(See also: Mooncake Festival 2019: 40+ Magnificent Mooncake Collections This Mid-autumn)
Yummy Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 Family Reunions
11. FREE limited-edition Mooncakes from Deliveroo!
In partnership with local artisanal bakery, The Bakerhaus, Deliveroo is giving away limited-edition blueberry Deliveroo mooncakes this season! Exclusively from today to 6 September, the first 20 customers each day who order from or dine-in at Deliveroo Food Market will receive a complimentary snowskin mooncake featuring a surprisingly yummy blueberry filling. Get ordering or head to the Deliveroo Food Market, ALICE@MEDIAPOLIS—stat!
12. Mid-Autumn Imperial High Tea at Si Chuan Dou Hua
Pair the Red Bean Paste with Preserved Orange Peel Mooncake with full-bodied Pu-er tea, alongside six exquisite dim sum items. Savour the mid-autumn rendition of Si Chuan Dou Hua’s renowned Imperial High Tea. It’s available exclusively at the TOP of UOB Plaza and PARKROYAL on Beach Road outlets. Call 6535 6006 (TOP of UOB Plaza) or 6505 5722 (PARKROYAL on Beach Road) for enquiries and dining reservations.
13. Mid-Autumn revelry at Min Jiang & Min Jiang at Dempsey
Goodwood Hotel Singapore’s Min Jiang, and its sister restaurant, Min Jiang at Dempsey, invite families to reunion dinner this mid-autumn. From 6 to 13 September, children under the age of 12 years will receive complimentary LED-operated paper lanterns during dinner. The beautiful lace eyelet paper lanterns will complete the festive atmosphere for an unforgettable celebration. Call 6730 1704 (Min Jiang) or 6774 0122 (Min Jiang at Dempsey) for enquiries and reservations.
14. Mid-Autumn reunion at Hai Tien Lo
For a flavourful meal with loved ones, Executive Chef Ben Zeng has created a sumptuous six-course Mid-Autumn Reunion Set Menu. Highlights include Chilled Crab Meat in Japanese Sake, and Double-boiled Fragrant Deep-fried Crispy Boneless Duck with Yam Paste. Every two diners during lunch and dinner gets one complimentary box of Four Treasures Baked Mooncakes. Available till 14 September for dine-in at Hai Tien Lo, Pan Pacific Singapore, call 6826 8240 for enquiries and reservations.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, folks!
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