The Rosemead Moon Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 13, to Valley Boulevard for an evening of heritage and community celebration. The Rosemead Moon Festival draws on the Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest tradition that originated more than 3,000 years ago in ancient China and honors the moon’s fullness with lanterns and mooncakes. Families and friends will gather beneath glowing lanterns to share stories, sample foods and enjoy live performances under the autumn sky. For more details, visit the City of Rosemead website at www.cityofrosemead.org.
Origins of the Rosemead Moon Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when East Asian communities give thanks for a bountiful harvest. In imperial China, emperors offered sacrifices to the moon goddess Chang’e in palace courtyards illuminated by paper lanterns. Over centuries, the festival spread across cultures and regions, evolving into a community event centered on reunion and gratitude. Today’s Rosemead Moon Festival preserves these customs through storytelling booths, cultural displays and workshops that invite visitors to learn about local and regional interpretations of moon worship.
Rosemead Moon Festival Activities and Foods
This year’s festival features more than 100 food and merchandise vendors lining Valley Boulevard between Ivar Avenue and Walnut Grove Avenue. Traditional mooncakes in lotus seed, red bean and modern custard flavors will sit alongside savory noodle dishes, bubble tea and grilled skewers. A petting zoo offers close encounters with goats and rabbits while inflatable jumpers and carnival games provide family fun. Artisans will host lantern-making workshops where children decorate lanterns with riddles and send them aloft in a symbolic sky lantern release.
Live Music and Dance Performances
A variety stage will showcase cultural and contemporary acts from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Local dance troupes will perform lion dances and folk dances, and community bands will play under the moonlight. Performers include the Rosemead Chinese Dance Ensemble and the San Gabriel Valley Youth Orchestra, whose animated renditions of traditional tunes will mix with modern pop covers. Attendees can expect high-energy drumming segments that reflect both ancient rhythms and current musical trends.
Community Impact at Rosemead Moon Festival
Admission and parking are free, ensuring all residents can take part in this unifying event. Vendor information is available at 909-787-8626 or via the Rosemead Moon Festival Instagram page @RosemeadMoonFestival. Organizers partner with local schools, businesses and volunteer groups to reflect the city’s diversity. Proceeds from select activities support youth arts programs and community gardens, reinforcing Rosemead’s commitment to family and cultural enrichment.
Evening Highlights of Rosemead Moon Festival
As daylight fades, lantern displays transform Valley Boulevard into a glowing gallery of light. Handcrafted lanterns depict local flora and fauna, inviting guests to stroll through themed installations. At 8 p.m., a ceremonial lantern release invites participants to write wishes and watch them drift skyward. Mooncakes and tea will be served at a central pavilion, where elders share legends of the moon goddess and harvest lore. The festival closes at 11 p.m. with a final musical act under the brilliant full moon.
The Rosemead Moon Festival offers a blend of tradition and modern attractions that strengthens community ties and celebrates cultural heritage under the autumn sky. Don’t miss this night of food, fun and shared history.
