Mid-Autumn Celebration 2008

Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month among Chinese communities worldwide. This auspicious occasion is a time of gathering and reunion for families and friends, many whom come together to enjoy mooncakes, Chinese tea and appreciate the moon at it fullest. But, that's pretty outdated.. Modern Mid-Autumn celebration is all about themed lanterns and shimmering festive lights.

This year, Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 14 Sept 2008 & just like previous years, there's a series of event lined up for this reunion festival.

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony
The ceremony will include a lantern parade, the largest dragon dance street performance, lion dances, other invigorating performances as well as a spectacular fireworks display. The festivities will culminate with the widely acclaimed performances by renowned Japanese troupe, Akita Kanto.
Date : 31 Aug
Time : 6.45pm – 10pm
Venue : Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Street Light-Up
Watch Chinatown transform into “Chang Er’s Magical Garden” as the streets will be lit up in a mesmerising mix of flowers, lights and lanterns.
Date : 31 Aug - 30 Sep
Time : 7pm – 2am (Fri, Sat and PH) & 7pm – 12am (Sun – Thu)
Venue : Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Garden Bridge

Chinatown Festive Street Bazaar
During this period, there will be more than 250 festive stalls lining the streets of Chinatown to cater for every festive need. Traditional festive goodies include mooncakes, pomelos and lanterns.
Date : 29 Aug - 14 Sep
Time : 11am – 11pm (Sun – Thu) & 11am – 1am (Fri, Sat and PH)
Venue : Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street and Sago Street

Nightly Stage Shows
The popular gathering point for the local Chinese communities lives up to its deeply rooted affinity to Chinese culture with its nightly performances. By the way, its not only for the old, but for everyone.
Date : 31 Aug – 14 Sep
Time : 8pm – 10.30pm
Venue : Kreta Ayer Square

Mass Lantern Walk and Celebrations
The festival comes to a close with a mass lantern walk under the moonlit sky along Eu Tong Sen Street. Families, adults and children alike are invited to walk with their lanterns under the street light-up and decorations. Performances such as stilt walkers, dragons and lion dances bring the celebration to a colourful finale.
Date : 13 Sep
Time : 7.30pm – 10pm
Venue : Start point at open field near Outram Park MRT

Lantern Fantasy 2008 featuring F8 - Hello Kitty Go Races!
Lantern Fantasy 2008 is a multiracial event that showcases the participation of other races in a traditionally Chinese celebration. The “F8 – Hello Kitty Go Races” will feature the adorable Hello Kitty and friends as they face up to the challenge of various sporting races, like car racing, sailboat racing, tricycle racing and other fun activities! Hello Kitty’s other friends, Dear Daniel, Bad Badtz-Maru, Pom Pom Purin, Cinnamoroll, Minna No Tabo, My Melody and Keroppi will also be seen as lantern decorations.
Date : 29 Aug – 28 Sep
Time : 6pm - 11pm
Venue : Chinese Garden
Cost : Adult - $12 / Child - $8 (Mon-Thu) Adult - $15 / Child - $10 (Fri - Sun, including eve of and public holidays)
Website : www.2008lanternfestival.com.sg

Mid-Autumn Festival by the River
The riverside is overflowing with excitement in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. CENTRAL, a dining and shopping haven, offers refreshing flavours, performances, fun and games. Aside from the mouthwatering mooncakes and festive goodies, there will be activities like educational Chinese games and quizzes, Search and Win Hunt, Speed Dating and Children’s Lantern Parade that all patrons can take part in. On 31 August at 7.15pm. All through the festival, the riverside will see unique land and river lantern displays showcasing Chinese legends and historical personalities.
Date : 29 Aug – 14 Sep
Time : 11am – 10pm
Venue : Central Mall

14th Ngee Ann City National Lion Dance Championship 2008
Ngee Ann City hosts the city’s top lion dance groups as they compete for the coveted championship title in the freestyle and traditional categories. Nam Sieng Dragon and Lion Dance Activity Centre, winner for two consecutive years will once again pit their skills against their now much-prepared adversaries and battle it out for the Champion of Champions trophy which has not been won by any group for the last seven years.
Date : 1 - 6 Sep
Time : 7.30pm
Venue : Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City