L.A. is such a cosmopolitan city that sometimes it feels like you can travel around the world without ever stepping foot inside LAX. From Little Tokyo to Koreatown, the city’s cultural calendar is packed with celebrations that bring traditions from around the globe straight to SoCal.
This September, one of China’s biggest traditional holidays arrives at The Huntington’s gardens, where the three-night Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration is taking place.
Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration at The Huntington’s Chinese Garden
This year’s celebration will run from September 25–27, 2026, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The event will center on Liu Fang Yuan, the 15-acre Chinese Garden, giving visitors the chance to explore its pavilions, bridges, pathways, and water features after sunset.
While the full details for the 2026 edition haven’t been unveiled yet, previous editions give an idea of what makes the celebration special. Past Mid-Autumn events at The Huntington have included live Chinese music, food, lantern displays and nighttime garden walks, with one previous celebration attracting more than 4,000 guests. Tickets are expected to go on sale on September 1st.
What to know about the millenary Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival (also called the Moon Festival) dates back more than 3,000 years to ancient Chinese traditions of honoring the moon and celebrating the autumn harvest. It takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is traditionally at its fullest and brightest.
The holiday is especially associated with family reunions, moon-viewing and mooncakes, whose round shape symbolizes completeness and togetherness. The tradition is celebrated throughout China and in communities across Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and other parts of Asia, with customs varying by region.
