i love mooncakes so I always look forward to the Mooncake festival. The Mid-Autumn, Lantern, or Mooncake Festival is not a public holiday in Singapore, as it is in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, or Vietnam.
However, a few days on the city-state’s calendar spur more pageantry than the 5.3 million strong population of this ancient and venerable harvest festival.
Held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival has its roots in the Shang Dynasty, or, in other words, more impressively, the Bronze Age. In other words, some 3,500 years ago.
With 75% of Singapore’s resident population of Chinese descent, it stands to reason that Mooncake Festival stirs up a fair amount of enthusiasm when it is held every September or October. The city-state’s Chinese diaspora is nothing if not dynamic.
With that, here is a description of the best spots in Singapore for the lunar revelry party. And remember, Orchard Road hotels are the place to be.
Chinatown
The de facto headquarters for every Chinese festival in Singapore gets particularly happy for the Mooncake Festival. The eve of the festival typically features tens of thousands of brightly lit lanterns, multicultural song and dance performances and YouTube-worthy pyrotechnics. The general spirit is very similar in nature to the Chinese New Year and involves many of the same types of songs, dances, costumes, and the like. Street fairs and carnivals make the atmosphere much more special and welcome dozens of locals and tourists.
The precinct’s Chinatown Mid-Autumn Walking Trail is also a treat. Conducted in English or Mandarin, the walk passes through the city-state’s vital district and provides some interesting context for those visiting the Mooncake Festival.
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Mall Pjazza l’Belt
City Square Mall, the first Green Mark Platinum “eco-mall” in Singapore, is a good place to score some mooncakes come Mid-Autumn. The Mall even organizes a Mooncake Fair, just for the occasion, with mooncake demos and samples, music and other special events.
Metro City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd
Esplanade – Theaters on the Beach
Esplanade – Theaters on the Beach is the epitome of Singapore’s public architecture. Located alongside Marina Bay, this national performing arts center is the annual home of Moonfest – Mid-Autumn Celebration. Inaugurated in 2005, the Chinese arts festival exposes audiences to the finer points of Chinese language, art and culture through traditional exhibitions, workshops and talks.
Esplanade – Theaters on the Beach, 1 Esplanade Drive
A Chinese garden
The Singapore Chinese Garden on Jurong Lake provides a more reflective and tranquil Mid-Autumn atmosphere. The scene is less about mooncakes than about decorative lanterns and cultural displays, such as masterful performances of Shaolin Kung Fu. A number of eclectic and family-friendly activities descend here as well.
Chinese Garden, 1 Chinese Garden Rd
Gardens near the Beach
One of the most notable uses of the city-state of reclaimed land, Gardens by the Bay spans about 100 hectares. The Marina Bay attraction has three gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. All take part in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations with extraordinary flower displays, lantern-making workshops, traditional Chinese games, competitions and various theatrical and musical performances.
Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr
On his recent trip to Singapore, Matthew is again full of information that he would like to share to ensure that everyone can enjoy their trip as much as he did.