San Francisco’s historic Chinatown is known for its many thriving restaurants and shops, and many popular community events. One of the neighborhood’s major celebrations, the annual Autumn Moon Festival, will take over 6 blocks this weekend, with lion dancing, mooncakes, and more.
2026 SF Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival
Chinatown’s annual Autumn Moon Festival is this weekend, September 19-20. The free, two-day celebration spans Grant Ave. between California and Broadway. The festival will run from 11 am to 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, and is open to all ages.
The festival’s main stage will be located at Washington & Grant Ave., with lion dancing, martial arts demonstrations, and more in the lineup. A Saturday highlight is the K-Pop Dance Contest, with three categories: solo, duo, and group. The competition will take place on the main stage starting at 1:15 pm. On Sunday, the festival will host a dumpling-eating competition that starts at 2:45 pm. The festival’s finale is the Dragon Parade on Sunday at 4:45 pm, after a series of live performances and activities throughout the day.
Aside from the main stage entertainment, attendees can expect street events, including lion dancing, the Chinese Photographic Society Photo Display, and more. Plenty of mooncakes will be available, traditionally served during Mid-Autumn and Moon Festival Celebrations.
The festival is presented by the Chinatown Merchants Association, which was founded in 1988. The association held the first Autumn Moon Festival in SF in 1991, and it has remained a beloved event every year for over 30 years.
Don’t miss the festival on September 19 and 20, from 11 am to 5 pm. We recommend taking transit to the festival, as it can be difficult to find parking in the area.