Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) with mooncakes, magic, and the Jade Rabbit on the moon! Stop by for an afternoon of storytelling, drop-in arts and crafts, mooncake making, and more.

RSVP online in advance.

Performances, Workshops & Activities

Chinese Theatre Works Presents: Tiger Tales Shadow Puppet Performance | 2:30 pm* 
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, shadow puppetry is especially popular because the full moon acts as an enchanting light source for performances. Chinese Theatre Works bring to life an enchanting tale where a wise old rabbit recounts stories from her eventful life to her young granddaughter– including how she came to be the Prime Minister to Tiger, the ever-hungry jungle king. All ages. *Space is limited.

Munching on Mooncakes: Mooncake Making & Tasting Stations | 2:30 – 4:30pm** 
Sharing mooncakes with friends and family is a beloved Mid-Autumn tradition. Join MOCA’s friends Judy Gao and Xiaoyan Lu as they demonstrate how to make special snow-skin mooncakes. Discover the ingredients inside mooncakes and the molds used to make them. Afterwards, try delectable slices of traditional mooncakes courtesy of Po Wing Hong Food Market and Fay Da Bakery, paired with flavorful tea from Harney & Sons. **While supplies last!

MOCAKIDS Storytime: To the Moon and Back!
Did you know that a goddess, rabbit, and woodcutter all live on the moon? Discover how they got there and more, as you listen to retellings of timeless Mid-Autumn Moon Festival myths.

Shoot for the Moon Scavenger Hunt | Meets in the Lobby
Join a MOCA educator in following clues high and low to spot twinkling full moons and shimmering stars in the museum exhibits! Practice your archery like Hou Yi to protect the galleries!

TIMBER! Wu Gang Wood Cutting Challenge
Chinese legend says that a Man on the Moon is trying to cut down a tree that magically regrows after each ax stroke. Test your aim and your tree-cutting skills with a MOCA original game. Can you succeed where Wu Gang couldn’t? 

Harvest Moon Picnic 
The full harvest moon symbolizes family reunion and coming together. Gather around the blanket for a make-believe harvest moon picnic! Learn about the foods that families share as they gaze at the moon and give thanks for the year’s harvest.

Mid-Autumn Photo Corner 
Soak up the limelight (or moonlight!) at the Mid-Autumn photo corner. Strike a pose with moon Goddess Chang’E, skilled archer Hou Yi, 玉兔 Yùtù the Jade Rabbit, and special moon themed props. Don’t forget to add a secret wish for Chang E’ to grant.

Drop-In Arts & Crafts, 2- 5pm

Mooncake Messages with Teaching Artist Yu Rong
Mooncakes are delicious… and revolutionary! During the Yuan Dynasty, they were used to pass secret messages, which helped overthrow the Mongolian empire in China. Using homemade invisible ink, write and decode your very own secret messages and riddles. 

Glimmer, Sparkle, Twinkle! Cosmic Mobiles 
Celebrate the Mid Autumn Moon by creating mixed-media mobiles with shining moons and twinkling stars. Hang your mobile up at home and enjoy your very own glittering nightscape!

Lunar Levitations
Using paper, tape, and a bit of magic, create a floating Mid-Autumn moon to celebrate the year’s biggest, brightest moon.

Make-Believe Mooncakes
Ever wonder how mooncakes get their fancy designs? Find out, then test your favorites using real mooncake molds and modeling clay!

Spectacular Shadow Stories
Construct and decorate shadow puppets of the Jade Rabbit and Moon Goddess Chang’E, using acetate, paper fasteners, markers, and more! When you finish your creation, head to MOCA’s shadow puppet theater to stage an original performance!