The month of September promises festive cheer for Hongkongers in the form of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The city’s biggest cultural celebration is packed with stunning lantern displays, carnivals, dances and delectable delicacies like mooncakes to gorge on. With city-wide lantern displays, the festive time magically illuminates the Hong Kong skyline. To make the most of the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, let’s take you through the best lantern displays and events across the city.
This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 17, 2024. On this designated public holiday, lantern carnivals and lunar displays decorate the cityscape, symbolising good fortune as well as prosperity. While the government undertakes some large-scale events to commemorate the festival, you’ll also find a number of lantern displays organised by various communities across the city. Victoria Park hosts the largest lantern carnival with many cultural programs. Some of the other prominent lantern carnivals include the celebrations at New Territories, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza as well as Tai O Water Village.
Imaginative lantern shapes, from cartoon characters to floral motifs decorate the markets, with people parading their favourite picks at the carnivals. So, what are you waiting for? Sort your plans for this Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 by visiting the city’s best lantern displays listed in our guide below.
Best Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 lantern displays in Hong Kong
1. Urban Lantern Festivalat Victoria Park
When: September 12 to September 18, 2024
Where:Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Website: cpo.gov.hk/event/en-mid-autumn-lantern-carnivals-2024
Welcome to the largest Mid-Autumn lantern carnival in Hong Kong. The Urban Lantern Carvinal is most popular among both locals and tourists. Apart from exquisite lantern displays, you have to try out the seasonal delicacies at the stalls, enjoy performances by art groups from the mainland, as well as witness the fire dragon dance and folk craft demonstrations in all their glory.
2. Tai O Water Village Lantern Festival
When: September 1 to September 22, 2024
Where: Tai O, Lantau Island
Website: facebook.com/TAIOFEIMAOLI
Apart from its thrilling Dragon Boat parade, the village of Tai O is famous for hosting its own lantern festival. Interstingly, all the lanterns are curated by local artisans themselves and hung along the village’s many waterways to pay homage to the moon goddess Chang’e. However, the best lantern viewing spot is in front of the mural at Tai O Square. What’s more is that a host of fun Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 events, workshops as well as competitions await your participation. So, get started.
3. Lee Tung Avenue ‘Moon Fest Lumiere’ festival
When: Now to October 15, 2024
Where: Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Website: leetungavenue.com.hk
A popular Mid-Autumn Festival destination, Lee Tung Avenue is returning with its ‘Moon Fest Lumiere’ campaign wherein over 800 traditional Chinese lanterns, also fish-shaped lanterns, will be decorated throughout the 200-metre-long tree-lined street. This year’s highlight, however, will be the LED Fire Dragon Fiesta happening on September 17. It will feature an 18-metre-long LED fire dragon with complementary LED lion dance as well as drumming performances. A host of other exciting events also await anyone planning to visit Lee Tung Avenue for the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024.
4. Starstreet Precinct’s ‘Moon Moon Dance Party’
When: Now to September 22, 2024
Where: Starstreet Precinct, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Website: pacificplace.com.hk
Light up the dance floor this Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 with Starstreet Precinct’s ‘Moon Moon Dance Party’. This year’s theme is an exciting celestial lunar adventure, featuring one of Hong Kong’s favourite duos, Mr n Mrs Moon. Apart from clicking Instgraamable selfies of the decorations, you can enjoy massive shopping rewards as well as fantastic giveaways, including Mr n Mrs Moon-themed goodies. Stand a chance to win exclusive Moon Moon 3D Soy Sauce Dish Sets, chic Moon Moon Stainless Steel Tumblers, as well as enjoy special dining vouchers for extra savings.
5. AIRSIDE’s MR.FRIENDLY installations
When: Now to October 1, 2024
Where: Airside, Kai Tak, Hong Kong
Website: airside.com.hk
Shopping hub AIRSIDE is marking its 1st anniversary with a special Mid-Autumn Festival celebration featuring world-renowned Japanese social character MR.FRIENDLY. You can find towering inflatables of MR.FRIENDLY and the bright moon across the space, the iconic smile dotting every corner. In addition to the installations as well as graphic displays, AIRSIDE has partnered with select dining outlets for MR. FRIENDLY-themed menus, including limited-edition coffees and beverages.
So, enjoy this festival with stunning installations and delicious food under the moonlit sky. Adding to this is a limited dessert giveaway and a pet-friendly market for a fun day out with your furry friends. Lastly, you can win HKD 1M plus AIRSIDE x MR.FRIENDLY festive collectables with designated spending. So, hurry up!
6. Citygate ‘Lost Dogs’ Disco” art installation
When: September 13 to October 13, 2024
Where: The Atrium on L2 and The Piazza on L4, Citygate Outlets
Website: citygateoutlets.com.hk
Citygate outlets are marking the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival the ‘paw-sitive’ way. The Lost Dogs’ Disco installation at Citygate Outlets features 16 dog sculptures in various poses, placed throughout the mall’s indoor as well as outdoor areas. The giant installations featuring the fluff balls are enhanced with surround sounds, immersive visuals and a host of other interactive elements.
At the Piazza on L4, you’ll spot 5 giant inflatable dogs lounging, standing, and even touching noses. Meanwhile, a 5.5-metre Dalmatian will greet visitors in the Atrium on L2, flaunting its dance moves on a glittering disco stage. Lastly, Citygate Outlets will host a pet market at the Piazza on L4 outdoor terrace every weekend from September 14 to October 13. So, it’s the perfect time to pamper your adorable companions.
7. Mikiki ‘Autumn Moon Festival’ installations
When: September 9 to October 1, 2024
Where: Mikiki G/F Atrium, Zone A (near Lukf*ck Jewellery)
Website: mikiki-mall.com.hk
Mid-Autumn Festival-themed installations and large-scale market await your presence at the Mikiki. The shopping centre will transform into a Chinese ‘Autumn Moon Courtyard’ featuring a tall giant full moon installation as well as adorable jade rabbit decorations. Also, don’t miss out on the ‘Autumn Moon Market’ which will feature around 30 local speciality brands selling festive foods, exquisite gift boxes, fine wines, and selected lifestyle products. Additionally, on all the select weekends in September, you can also participate in a series of Mid-Autumn-themed experience workshops, including making pet mooncakes, lanterns, and night light decorations at Mikiki.
8. New Territories Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
When: September 12 to September 18, 2024
Where: Tsing Yi Park, 60 Tsing King Rd, Tsing Yi
Website: ccf.gov.hk
A relatively less-crowded option for those who want to enjoy their Mid-Autumn Festival sightings peacefully, New Territories undoubtedly hosts one of the best carnivals. The Tsing Yi Park will be covered in lantern displays of interesting shapes and sizes for an entire week. There will also be self-service lantern riddles and different small group performances every night. So, you better not miss this one.
(Main image credit: Chinese Culture Festival website; Feature image: Hong Kong Tourism Board)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
