Birmingham Mid Autumn Festival in Chinatown: everything to know including tickets, dates & more

The Mid Autumn Festival (Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival) is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture and Birmingham will be home to a large celebration not unlike the Chinese New Year festival. As the second most important holiday in China, it’s a long holiday for families to come together and celebrate.

The day is also observed throughout Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The full moon - known as the Harvest Moon in the West that month - will be central to the celebration. The Harvest Moon will be visible on September 29 this year and it will appear bright in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Moon Festival was first celebrated during China’s Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago. The traditions have evolved since then between the different countries. In some places, there’s a lion dance, partaking in stuffed rice cake or mooncakes, playing with lanterns and a lot more.

When and where is the Moon festival celebrations in Birmingham?

This year, the traditional festival is on September 29, 2023, and in Birmingham the celebrations will take place on October 1 at The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre.

What to expect at the Moon Festival in Birmingham?

Performs will put on the beautiful Lion Dance, as well as traditional Chinese dancing and music. You can also expect Dragon Dance and the schedule will be repeated twice. You can catch it at 10.30am, 12.30pm, or 2.30pm.

There will be a free Children’s workshop (sponsored by Wing Yip Supermarket) include face painting, lantern making, fan making, cultural dance workshop, Chinese calligraphy, lion dance workshop and open Chinese school where you can learn simple phrases.

Where to buy tickets?

Ticekts are priced at £2 per person and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Chung Ying Cantonese, Chinatown

On October 3, you can visit the restaurant for a special Chinese Mid Autumn Festival Showcase at Chung Ying Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown. The event starts at 12.30 with a buffet lunch at 1pm. Guests will hear presentations on Chinese culture and arts and will get to watch a special performance. The ticket includes a welcome drink and buffet lunch.