Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28 | 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Join us for a festive day at the garden as we celebrate Mid-Autumn traditions from China, Vietnam, and Japan through cultural activities, family-friendly fun, and hands-on experiences.
Each visitor will receive a Mooncake Pass that can be redeemed for a special Mid-Autumn prize from the Garden Shop if completed. As you explore, collect stamps by stopping by cultural stations, doing craft activities, and visiting food and retail vendors.
Get Tickets Now
Thank you Prosper Portland!
A huge thank you to the Portland Events and Film Office at Prosper Portland for supporting Lan Su’s Mid-Autumn Festival this year!
By investing in creativity and culture, they help build vibrant communities—and a more vibrant Portland. We’re grateful for their commitment to celebrating the city’s dynamic events and cultural traditions.
Did you know? In Japan, Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tsukimi, and in Vietnam they celebrate Tết Trung Thu—also known as Children’s Festival. In China, Mid-Autumn Festival is Zhōng Qiū Jié (中秋節).
Daytime Schedule
FREE Opening Day Lion Dance
9:45 AM | Friday, September 26
Kick off Mid-Autumn weekend at Lan Su with a traditional lion dance by the iconic White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance team! The lion dance will take place in the front plaza, welcoming all to enjoy this spectacular performance.
Create an Origami Rabbit
10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Join Lunarcat Studios for a hands-on origami adventure! Create your very own paper bunny while learning the Japanese Mid-Autumn (Tsukimi) legend of the moon rabbit who makes mochi.
Community Vendors
10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Grab some tasty bites from local vendors like Jade Rabbit and Ngot. Or, find a special trinket from shops like Rylla Handmade, Canvas & Co, Sheila Wong, and Lunarcat Studios.
Featured Retail from Lan Su
Jade Rabbit’s Immortal Elixir: Create your own version of the legendary immortal elixir by filling a small keepsake vial with layers of colorful sand, and watch your potion come to life!
Gashapon Machine with Tsukimi toys: Try your luck with the token machine craze sweeping Japan and take home an adorable Mid-Autumn themed trinket.
Note: These activities have an additional cost.
Moon Goddess Photo Op
10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Create a memory in front of our full moon backdrop alongside the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, and her rabbit companion. Chang’e will be played by costumed volunteers that bring the legend to life for visitors.
Mid-Autumn Storytime
11 AM – 1 PM & 2– 4 PM
Join children’s author Dane Liu or Lan Su Guide Dora Liang to hear some of the most famous Mid-Autumn folktales in a lively retelling with props. Readings will take place every 30 minutes. All ages are welcome!
Storytime with Children’s Author Dane Liu | 11 AM – 1 PM
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Join award-winning children’s book author, Dane Liu, for a special Mid-Autumn Storytime and activity! Gather the family for an exciting and interactive half-hour of cultural storytelling and a hands-on craft.
Dane will also be available to sign copies of her book, LaoLao’s Dumplings, available at the Garden Shop.
Meet Dane Liu
Dane Liu writes for young readers here in Portland. Her latest LAOLAO’S DUMPLINGS received multiple starred reviews and was featured by the Library of Congress at the National Book Festival.
Her debut FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS, FOREVER is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Kids’ Indie Next pick, and a best of the year from Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Her nonfiction picture book AMAZING: ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO INSPIRE US ALL, cowritten with Olympic medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, has been featured on ABC News, NBC News, and CBS Mornings.
Dane is an Oregon Book Award winner and an Oregon Literary Career Fellow. As a writer, she hopes to inspire young people to see the beauty of their own stories.
Storytime with Lan Su Guide Dora Liang | 2– 4 PM
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You know her from her lively hosting of touhu games during Lunar New Year, with her gong ringing throughout the garden. Now, join Dora Liang—one of Lan Su’s beloved Guides and a Volunteer of the Year award-winner—for an exciting storytime all about Mid-Autumn Festival.
Meet Dora Liang
Dora became a Lan Su volunteer and docent in 2024, drawn by Lan Su’s mission and community. A transplant from Los Angeles, she found the docent training deeply inspiring, sparking her passion for the philosophy and cultural significance of Ming dynasty gardens. Dora especially values guiding tours, where she can inspire and enrich each guest’s experience. She also appreciates Lan Su as a cultural hub that celebrates and showcases AANHPI artists and traditions in new, exciting ways.
Earlier this year, Dora was honored with the Elizabeth Cha Smith Award in recognition of her dedication to Lan Su and to learning about Chinese culture as it is represented in the garden. Dora was gifted with a book from Elizabeth’s personal collection as part of the ceremony, as she was known for writing about her knowledge of horticulture and the cultural and historical significance of the plants, trees, and flowers in Lan Su.
Dora Liang, right, accepts the award from Elizabeth Cha Smith’s daughter, Deborah Yang.
Osmanthus Collection Tour
1–1:30 PM (Saturday, 9/27 and Sunday, 9/28 only)
Join a horticulturist for a 30-minute tour of our abundant osmanthus collection and learn about all the different types that can grow in the Pacific Northwest. Fragrance is the best part about this plant, but the allure doesn’t end there!
Bunnies Meet & Greet with Rose City Rabbit Rescue
Noon – 3 PM
Show some love to the furry friends who inspired Mid-Autumn folktales across Asian cultures.
About Rose City Rabbit Rescue
Rose City Rabbit Rescue is an all-volunteer non-profit that cares for abandoned domestic rabbits rescued in and around Portland, OR.
Yun Shui Teahouse Special: A Moonlit Match
Savor a red bean mooncake and Pu-erh Gong Fu Cha tea pairing for $18, perfect for two people to share. This pairing offers a balance of sweet, earthiness, and warmth—a quiet nod to tradition and comfort under the glow of the full moon. Pu-erh tea gets richer and more flavorful as it ages, just like how the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the moon at its fullest. Bring a friend and share this pairing as a sign of wholeness, reunion, and togetherness!
Note: Mooncake flavor based on availability. Swap the mooncake for a HeyDay donut to make it gluten-free.
Come celebrate unity under one moon and discover the unique ways each country honors this beloved festival!
Get Daytime Tickets
- Lan Su Members & Guests:* Free
- General Admission: $16.00
- Youth (ages 3-17): $13.00
- Infant (0-2 years): Free
- Family Pass (2 General + 2 Youth): $55.00
* The number of discounted tickets per member is determined by membership tier.
Mid-Autumn Night Out
September 26–28 | 7:30-9:30 PM
Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at Lan Su with lantern glow, moonlit magic, and the heat of a spectacular fire dance by Paradise of Samoa!
