Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 in Singapore – BusyKidd

Get ready for the Mid Autumn Festival 2024 in Singapore! Here’s our BusyKidd’s guide to understanding the history and traditions of this mooncake Mid Autumn festival. We’ve covered the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the delicious food (yes, mooncakes!), the events happening around town, and a few ideas for fun activities you can enjoy with your kids—from Mid-Autumn arts and crafts to making your own playdough mooncakes!

Related Reading: Check out our guides to Best Mooncakes in Singapore, Best Places to Watch Fireworks in Singapore.

Radiant Traditions of Mid-Autumn Festival

Image Credit: Singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com

Lotus Mooncake SG

Lotus mooncakes are a staple of the Mid-Autumn festival. They have a lotus-like shape with decorative patterns on top. These mooncakes are filled with sweet lotus seed paste and salted duck egg yolks. They offer a unique and delicious flavor.

Mid Autumn Lantern

Lanterns are an important part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Originally, they were used as spiritual offerings. Now, you can see children carrying lanterns of different shapes and sizes.

Pomelo Mid Autumn Festival

Pomelo is a symbol of blessings during the Mid-Autumn festival in Singapore. In Mandarin, the word for pomelo (柚, yòu) sounds like the word for “bless” (佑, yòu). Families offer pomelos to the moon, hoping for good luck and happiness from the Moon Goddess. It is a real Mandarin Oriental Singapore mooncake.

Snow skin Mooncake Singapore

Snowskin mooncakes are a modern version of the traditional lotus mooncake in Singapore. They have a soft, chewy outer layer made from glutinous rice. These mooncakes are filled with various sweet and savory fillings. They are usually white and served cold, which is why they are called snowskin.

When is the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024?

The Mid Autumn Festival in 2024 is on Tuesday, September 17. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, usually falling in September or October. Although it is not a public holiday in Singapore, it remains a significant cultural event.

A Bit of History: Story of Mid Autumn Festival

This Mid Autumn Festival began over 2000 years ago during the Song dynasty in China. People celebrated to thank the gods for a good harvest and honored the legend of Chang’E, who ascended to the moon after drinking an elixir of immortality. Another mid autumn mooncake festival story tells of Buddha rewarding a rabbit’s self-sacrifice by sending it to the moon.

Today, the Mid-Autumn festival is a time to celebrate the moon, food, family, and friends. People light lanterns and enjoy Singapore mooncakes. Traditional paper lanterns have evolved into plastic, battery-operated ones that often play electronic tunes.

The MidAutumn Festival is also known as the Mooncake Festival in Singapore. It is a fun time for families to gather and enjoy tasty mooncakes while celebrating cultural traditions.

Celebrations

Sentosa Sky Lantern Highlights Mid-Autumn Festival Singapore

Lanterns are crafted in extraordinary shapes such as dragons, ducks, butterflies, and buses. The sky lit up with these creations is a stunning sight. Large lanterns are displayed in several places within the city for people to admire. Lantern-painting competitions are popular during this time. Roadside stalls offer samples of mooncakes and tea to passersby. People visit each other and exchange gifts as a gesture of gratitude. Overall, the Mooncake Sky Fest in Singapore 2024 is full of warmth, joy, merriment, and thankfulness.

Local Festivities

The Mid-Autumn estival is not just about entertainment but also learning about Chinese culture and the legend of Chang’E. Restaurants and hotels offer a wide variety of mooncakes. People greet each other, enjoy full moon cakes, express gratitude, and pray. The festive atmosphere fills Singapore with glittering colors.

The Singapore Moon Viewing Ceremony

A popular tradition during the Mooncake Mid-Autumn Festival is the moon-viewing ceremony. Family and friends gather beneath the moonlight in their gardens or on rooftops. They watch the moon while sipping tea or eating mooncakes. Houses are decorated with glowing lanterns and fairy lights. The evening sky is also adorned with colorful lanterns that people set afloat as soon as the sun sets.

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore

The Mooncake Mid-Autumn Festival is one of Singapore’s largest local celebrations due to its significant Chinese population, which makes up at least 74% of the total population. This Mid-Autumn festival occurs when the moon shines the brightest, and people gather to celebrate after twilight.

Where to Witness the Mooncake Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore

Image Credit: China Town via Instagram

Singapore doesn’t have a single fixed venue for the Mid Autumn festival of Mooncake. Chinatown, however, is decorated with lanterns, garlands, and lights. You can see extraordinary lamps on display in Chinatown. The area also hosts carnivals featuring cultural performances. Mid autumn festival food lovers flock to Chinatown for the variety of mooncake brands on sale.

Singapore has many events for the Mid Autumn Festival. Don’t miss the colorful lantern displays at Gardens by the Bay. Visit the Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. They have workshops and performances.

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 Official Light Up

Chinatown will unveil a new street light display this year. Join the official light-up and opening ceremony and enjoy a front-row view of the beautiful lights.

• Where: Kreta Ayer Square, 21 Banda Street

Lantern Painting Competition at Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 

Kids can celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by participating in the Lantern Painting Competition in Chinatown. Organized by Kreta Ayer CC and the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Committee, this competition promises a fun-filled event for the whole family.

• Where: Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road

Mid Autumn Festival 2024 at Gardens by The Bay

Image Credit: Gardensbythebay.com.sg

Bring your family and friends to enjoy beautiful lantern displays lighting up the Gardens in the evenings. Weekend fringe activities live outdoor stage performances, and a marketplace will return this year, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the Mid-Autumn festivities!

• Where: Gardens by the Bay Happy Lantern Mooncake Mid Autumn Festival Singapore

Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2024

Image Credit: Sysnmh.org.sg

Produced by Taiwan’s Kai 3D Art Studio in collaboration with the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, “Celestial Bodies” is an outdoor installation featuring spherical lanterns representing the Moon, Earth, Sun, Saturn, and Mercury.

• Where: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall

Kid-Friendly Activities & DIY Mid Autumn Festival Craft

Celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival with your kids through these engaging activities:

• Crafting Mooncakes: Use molds from Chinatown or stores like Phoon Huat and Bake King to make traditional mooncakes. Younger children can have fun creating colorful playdough mooncakes or making their own playdough at home. Use mooncake molds as stamps to craft paper lanterns.
• Enjoying Mooncakes: Mooncakes are a Mid-Autumn festival favorite, available in traditional baked and pastel-colored snow-skin varieties. They are often exchanged as gifts and hold a legend of aiding Yuan China’s freedom from Mongol rule through hidden messages.
• Teaching Gratitude: Explore children’s books like “Happy Mooncake Festival, Elena!” by Dingli Stevens to teach kids about gratitude appreciating relationships, and good fortune.
• Storytelling: Share the legends of Chang’E and the selfless rabbit to inspire your children’s imagination and deepen their understanding of the Mid-Autumn festival’s cultural significance.
• Cooking Together: Engage kids in making mooncakes, explaining the importance of each ingredient and enhancing their cooking skills.
• Outdoor Activities: Plan a moon-viewing picnic with your family to enjoy moonlit nights and nature while celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival’s peaceful atmosphere.
• Making greeting cards for the mid-autumn festival with best wishes.

Kid-friendly Mid-Autumn Festival Events in Singapore

Here are some exciting, kid-friendly Mid-Autumn Festival events happening in Singapore this year.

Lights by the Lake @ Jurong Lake Gardens

Image Credit: NPARKS via Facebook

Jurong Lake Gardens is all set to dazzle with the return of “Lights by the Lake” from 8 to 22 September. This year’s event promises a stunning display of lights, music, and delicious food, making it a perfect outing for the whole family. Wander through enchanting lantern displays that highlight the biodiversity and iconic landmarks of the Gardens, with new origami-inspired designs to admire. As night falls, mesmerizing light and projection Mid-Autumn festivals bring the gardens’ structures to life in Singapore.

Lantern Display

Marvel at the beautiful lanterns, including floating ones, crafted by skilled artisans. It’s a visual treat that celebrates both nature and cultural heritage.

• When: 8 to 22 September 2024, 6:30 pm to 10 pm daily
• Where: Various Locations, Lakeside Garden

Cultural Showcases and Music Performances

Enjoy a cultural feast with traditional dances and contemporary musical performances that celebrate artistry and heritage.

• When: 8, 13 to 15, and 20 to 22 September 2024 (Fri – Sun), 6:30 pm to 10 pm daily
• Where: Various Locations, Lakeside Garden

NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra®

Don’t miss the 21st edition of Rockestra®! This concert will feature a special Mid-Autumn theme, ‘Moonlit Melodies,’ with local artists performing a mix of Mandarin and English songs. From classic tunes to modern hits, it’s a night of music the whole family will enjoy.

• When: 14 September 2024, 6:30 pm
• Where: The Oval, Lakeside Garden

Movie Screenings

Bring the kids for an evening under the stars with family-friendly movie screenings. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a day of festivities.

• When: 15 to 22 September 2024, 7 pm (Mon – Thu) and 7:30 pm (Fri – Sun)
• Where: The Oval, Lakeside Garden

Lantern Riddles

Challenge your mind and have fun with the kiddos as you solve traditional lantern riddles under the soft glow of lanterns.

• When: 9 to 12 and 16 to 19 September 2024 (Mon – Thu), 7 pm to 9 pm
• Where: Wave Plaza, Lakeside Garden

Singapore Mid-Autumn Light Festival 2024 at Jurong Lake Gardens runs from 8 to 22 September 2024, 6:30 pm to 10 pm daily, so there’s plenty of time to soak in the Mid-Autumn magic! Jurong Lake Gardens address is 50 Yuan Ching Rd, Singapore 618661.

• More Details

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Family Fun in Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Get ready for an action-packed Mid-Autumn Festival weekend at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre! The whole family can enjoy a guided lantern walk and even do some stargazing with telescopes. Taste a variety of mooncakes from different dialect groups, and be entertained by the local circus duo, Juggling Artisans. There’s also a singalong session hosted by Chinese radio station 96.3 Hao FM, adding to the festive vibe. For some meaningful family bonding, sign up for ticketed workshops like Parent-Child Lyrics Writing, Ancestral Heritage Stories, or try your hand at crafting Chinese Oriental Hair Pins in an Artistry Workshop.

• When: 6 to 8 September, various timings
• Where: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
• More Details

Soak Up the Festive Air at Chinatown

Chinatown is the place to be during the Mid-Autumn Festival! The celebrations kick off with the official light-up and opening ceremony at Kreta Ayer Square. This year, the streets will be adorned with dazzling lights that feature scenes from the Mid-Autumn legend and more. The light displays will illuminate New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen, South Bridge Road, and Upper Cross Street, creating a magical atmosphere for the whole family. Enjoy weekly Mid-Autumn festival fairs that showcase a variety of local cuisines, perfect for a family feast in front of the People’s Park Complex. Don’t miss the traditional and musical performances at Kreta Ayer Square. To stay updated on all the activities, follow the official Instagram page for event info and cultural insights.

• When: 30 August to 2 October 2024, 6:30 pm to 10 pm daily
• Where: Chinatown, Kreta Ayer Square, 21 Banda Street, Singapore 050005
• More Details

Head to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall

Before it temporarily closes for restoration, the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is hosting the Wan Qing Closing Fest, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese arts, culture, and heritage. From 20 August to 15 September 2024, enjoy free admission and extended gallery hours on select days. Highlights include the beautiful “Moonlit Legends” lantern display, an exciting “Secrets in the Moon Palace” mystery adventure, and a variety of cultural workshops and performances. This is a final celebration of tradition and creativity before the Memorial Hall’s temporary closure, so don’t miss out!

• When: 20 August to 15 September 2024, 10 am to 9 pm daily
• Where: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 21 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
• More Details

Catch a Singaporean Mandarin Performance at Gateway Theatre Gallery

“The Race Around The Moon” returns in 2024, now performed in Mandarin! Join beloved characters Chang’e, Jade Rabbit, and Wu Gang as they race to reunite with their families, facing challenges that test their friendship. This engaging show, recommended for kids aged 5 to 10, emphasizes the value of friendship, embracing one’s unique strengths, and understanding that it’s okay to lose. As a Relaxed Performance, the show offers a calm space and full accessibility for wheelchair users and those with mobility needs.

• When: 7 and 15 September 2024
• Where: Gateway Theatre, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461
• More Details

Whether you’re looking for cultural experiences, Mandarin Oriental shows in Singapore, hands-on workshops, or simply a fun family night out for fest, these Mid-Autumn Festival events in Singapore are sure to create lasting memories!

Gateway Kids Club September: Full Moon Stories

Image Credit: Gatewaytheatre.sg

This September, Gateway Kids Club is bringing some moonlit magic to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s a great chance for families to come together and enjoy wonderful stories about the festival’s legends. From the moon goddess Chang-E to the fun tale of Wu Gang and his never-ending tree-chopping, there’s a story for everyone.

Starting on September 7th, you can join Storyteller Nat for The Suns in the Sky and Storyteller William for The Legend of Chang-E and Hou Yi. Later in the month, Storyteller Abby will share Wu Gang Chop Chop Chop! and Storyteller Misha will tell The Lost Lantern. 

Here’s the lineup of enchanting tales for the month:

• 7 September, 10 AM – The Suns in the Sky with Storyteller Nat
• 7 September, 11 AM – The Story of Chang-E and Hou Yi (巴当的传奇) with Storyteller William (故事人伟光)
• 14 September, 10 AM – Chang Er & Ho Yi with a Young Storyteller from The Storytelling Centre
• 14 September, 11 AM – Wu Gang Chop Chop Chop! (吴刚砍树) with Storyteller Abby (故事人嘉希)
• 21 September, 10 AM – Lin Yi’s Lantern with Storyteller Dwayne
• 28 September, 10 AM – The Lost Lantern with Storyteller Misha

These sessions are perfect for a fun and memorable family outing, so be sure to sign up and enjoy the magic of Mid-Autumn with your loved ones!

• When: 7-28 September 2024
• Where: Gateway Theatre, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461
• More Details

Mooncake Making Workshop @ Zing Media

Join the mooncake-making workshop and get hands-on experience crafting your very own mooncakes! Choose between traditional or snow skin varieties, and dive into the fun of creating these delicious treats.

Why not make it a family affair? Sign up with your kids and enjoy some quality family time as you all learn the art of moon cake making together.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll take home four beautifully crafted mooncakes to share with your loved ones. Why not try to cook the best halal mooncake in Singapore?

Would you prefer to learn from the comfort of your home? They’ve got you covered with online classes via Zoom. Click here to find out more.

• Is this mooncake workshop near me? UBPoint, 61 Ubi Avenue 1 #06-11 Singapore 408941
• When: Mon-Fri, till 4 Oct, 10 am, a 120-minute session
• Mooncake Price: S$78
• More Details

*Special Edition* Mooncake Mantou @ Bake Fresh Studio

Image Credit: Bakefresh.com.sg

With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, join them for a special Mooncake Mantou-making class. Learn to create adorable and healthy mantou buns to delight everyone at your Mid Autumn festival celebration.

Class Details:

• Language: Conducted in Mandarin, with recipes provided in English.
• Lunch Break: Yes, there will be a lunch break.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to steam bun ingredients.
• Demonstration on how to make smooth mantou dough.
• Coloring the dough using natural colorings.
• Shaping and creating various characters.
• Generous tips for perfecting these characters.
• How to wrap fillings.
• Techniques for perfect steaming and judging proofing consistency.

You’ll take home 3 sets of rabbit designs and 2 mooncake designs, all with fillings

Don’t miss this opportunity to master the art of making mantou and mooncakes in a fun and educational environment!

• Where: BLK 1, Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-42, Singapore 082001
• When: 10 Sep 9 am – 2.30 pm, 18 Sep 9 am – 2.30 pm
• Moon Cake Mid-Autumn Festival Price: S$200 per pax/ S$195 per pax when you sign up 2 seats or more
• More Details

FAQ: Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated for? The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, is celebrated to mark the harvest season and to honor the full moon in Singapore, which symbolizes unity and prosperity. It is a time for families to come together, express gratitude, and celebrate the year’s bounties.

Is the Mid-Autumn Festival a public holiday in Singapore? No, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not a public holiday in Singapore. However, it is widely celebrated with various festivities and events throughout the city.

How does Singapore celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? Singapore celebrates the mid autumn festival in Singapore with vibrant events such as lantern displays, mooncake fairs, and cultural performances. Popular spots include Chinatown, where you can find beautiful lantern displays and festive street markets. Many neighborhoods also host community celebrations featuring traditional dances, music, and family-friendly activities.

When is the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. In 2024, it will be celebrated on September 17th.

Why do we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn festival celebrates the harvest season and the Singapore full moon, which is considered a symbol of harmony and unity. It is also a time to honor legends associated with the Mid-Autumn festival, such as the story of Chang’e and Hou Yi, and to enjoy quality time with loved ones.

Who celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by various cultures across Asia, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese communities. In Singapore, it is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds and is a significant cultural event for many.

Where to buy mooncakes in Singapore? You can purchase mooncakes at numerous locations in Singapore. Popular places include bakeries like Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, The Raffles Hotel, and various shopping malls such as Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands. Many local markets and specialty stores also offer a wide selection of mooncakes.
Why do we eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Mooncakes are a traditional treat enjoyed during this Fest. Their round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion. They are often filled with sweet or savory fillings and shared among family and friends as part of the celebration.