Organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival is an annual cultural event for the community to discover and experience the customs and traditions observed during the celebrations. This year’s festival presents an exciting weekend of offerings suitable for the young and the young at heart, including heritage trails around the Balestier precinct, guided tours of the museum’s galleries, mooncake tasting, lantern-making workshops, storytelling of Mid-Autumn tales, alfresco concert performances, and more.
The Memorial Hall’s lantern installation also promises to make for great photo-moments under the stars. Produced by local artist and sculptor Lee Yun Qin in collaboration with the Memorial Hall’s youth volunteers, “Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” is a luminescent outdoor art installation that pays homage to this ancient Mid-Autumn folklore and symbolises the desire for union during this festive season. Featuring over 200 stalks of sustainable glow-in-the-dark flower sculptures crafted from intricate wire mesh and solar-powered LED bulbs, this installation transforms the Memorial Hall’s lawn into an enchanting mid-autumn flower garden in celebration of this much-loved festival.
Activities are free unless otherwise stated.
Programmes
Festival Highlight – Sky Lanterns Light Up the Night!
Lanterns have been used across Asia for functional and decorative reasons: they chase away the darkness, they light the way home at night, and they add a touch of festivity during major festivals. They also perform a symbolic function and, during the Mid-Autumn Festival (or Mooncake Festival), they represent a desire for union and the aspiration for a better life. Join visitors from all walks of life in this traditional festive activity as the Memorial Hall releases three larger-than-life sky lantern helium balloons for the very first time, in a symbolic gesture of hope and blessings!
Note: This activity will not utilise traditional sky lanterns (crafted from bamboo and paper) in view of safety and environmental concerns. The Memorial Hall will instead release giant helium balloons inspired by the design of traditional sky lanterns. These sky lantern helium balloons will be illuminated with LED lights and will be tethered to the ground in order to maintain a fixed height after its release.
Date: 7 September (show is part of the nightly Evening Concert Segment)
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: Available on a first-come, first-served basis
Festival Highlight – “A Mid-Autumn Night’s Dream” Laser Show
Discover the magic of Mid-Autumn Festival at the Memorial Hall’s first ever laser light show! As the 3-minute outdoor show unfolds before your eyes, immerse yourself in a stunning symphony of colour visual projections, laser beams, and mist effects set to a moving orchestral soundtrack telling the story of the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 7.15pm; 8.15pm (show is part of the nightly Evening Concert Segment)
Admission: Available on a first-come, first-served basis
Sky Lantern Making Workshop
Usually fashioned from a thin metal or bamboo frame covered with paper, silk or gauze, Sky Lanterns are a symbol of joy and hope, particularly during festive seasons such as Mid-Autumn Festival. Learn how to craft your own simple Sky Lantern in this interactive workshop, before writing your Mid-Autumn wishes on it!
Date: 7 September
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Admission: Free. Register here.
“Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” Workshop
Produced by local artist and sculptor Lee Yun Qin, “Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” is a luminescent sustainable art installation featuring glow-in-the-dark flower sculptures crafted from intricate wire mesh and solar-powered LED bulbs. Learn how to create your own “Moonflower” sculpture in this hands-on session led by Lee, and pay homage to the ancient Mid-Autumn tradition of lighting lanterns under the full moon!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: Available on a first-come, first-served basis
Design Your Own Mooncake Box
The gifting of mooncakes to loved ones is a customary tradition of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the beautiful boxes in which these yummy treats are presented have become almost as important as the mooncakes themselves! Pick up some paint and crayons and design your very own paper mooncake box in this fun, kid-friendly craft activity.
Date: 7 September
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Jade Rabbit Bookmark Craft
Just as the Jade Rabbit was a loyal companion to the Moon Goddess, Chang ‘E, this creative festive bookmark will accompany book lovers on their literary adventures – all while making sure that readers never miss a page of their favourite book. Join this interactive craft activity and learn to fold and colour your very own Jade Rabbit Bookmark!
Date: 7 September
Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Snowskin Mooncake Workshop
Try your hand at making yummy snowskin mooncakes in this hands-on workshop! Have fun kneading, shaping and moulding your own snowskin mooncakes, and learn more about why the legends behind mooncakes and why we celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with these sweet treats.
Date: 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5 per person. Register here.
Make Your Own Clay Mooncake
Have fun moulding your own miniature clay mooncake in this interactive craft station, which uses kid-safe playdough created from eco-friendly and biodegradable ingredients such as flour, water and salt!
Date: 8 September
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Paper Lantern Colouring Craft
Complete your Mid-Autumn experience and have fun designing your very own Paper Lantern! Express your creativity in this kid-friendly craft session and bring your lantern to life.
Date: 8 September
Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Mid-Autumn Treasure Hunt
This Mid-Autumn Festival, it’s time to going digital! Find and take photos of all treasure hunt eight markers placed around the Memorial Hall, and upload them onto social media with the hashtag #WQTreasureHunt to win a mystery prize!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 10.00am – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Mid-Autumn Wishing Tree
Complete your Mid-Autumn experience at the Memorial Hall’s wishing tree station! Simply pen your Mid-Autumn dreams onto the slips of wishing paper provided and hang up them on the wishing tree to send your wishes to the Moon Goddess!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 10.00am – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Mooncake & Tea Tasting
(Supported by Kwong Cheong Thye and Camellia Tea Bar)
Savour a taste of tradition and sample our range of yummy mooncakes and freshly-brewed aromatic Chinese tea. Enjoy these festive delicacies as you learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Balloon Sculpting
Fancy yourself a colourful crown, sword, or flower? Spot our roving balloon artist and bring home a festival souvenir!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Caricature
Bored of taking selfies? If you’re looking for a fun and interesting way of capturing your self-portrait, head down to our live caricature station where our sketch artist will draw your portrait in minutes. Don’t forget to bring along your friends and family for a quirky group portrait!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Snack Stations
What’s a festival without some yummy treats? Visit our snack stations for a scrumptious selection of local snacks including curry puffs, goreng pisang, traditional ice cream and even mee siam! All snacks are available for sale.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Carnival Games
Have fun at our carnival game booths and collect stamps for your activity passport! Visit the other activity stations listed in the passport, and win a mystery prize.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Mid-Autumn Tales
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Do you know why we eat mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival, or how the legend of Chang’E came to be? Explore the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival at this special interactive storytelling session and learn more about the connection between the Moon Goddess, Jade Rabbit, and our much-loved mooncakes!
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm (Chinese); 3.00pm – 4.00pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Fun with Lantern Riddles
(Supported by Riddle Association Singapore)
What is Mid-Autumn Festival without lantern riddles? Learn tips and tricks on how to play this traditional game in this interactive segment that promises great fun for the whole family. Participate in this activity to win a yummy snack!
(Photo courtesy of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay)
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Balestier Heritage Trail
Embark on our best-selling Balestier Heritage Trail to uncover the rich history and origins of Balestier from as early as 1835. From landmarks like the Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple to heritage stops such as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory, delve into the architectural and cultural developments of Balestier and discover the unknown stories behind these places.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5 per person. Register here.
Book Launch: “Once Upon a Revolution: Dr. Sun Yat Sen and the Miyazaki Brothers in Japan and Singapore”
Join Ms Noda Mai, Curator of the Miyazaki Brothers Museum and Singapore Chinese historian Mr Kua Bak Lim, co-authors of this new joint research publication by the Miyazaki Brothers Museum and Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, as they share more on the highlights of the research report and shed light on the activities of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his supporters in Japan and Singapore, as well as their connections to each other.
Date: 7 September
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Admission: No registration required
Permanent Gallery Guided Tour
Join us for a guided tour of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and hear the stories behind this century-old villa that trace Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in Southeast Asia. Gain valuable insights on the impact of the 1911 Revolution on Singapore, as well as Singapore’s contributions to the Revolution.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 2.30pm (Chinese); 3.00pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Evening Concert
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! The line-up includes festival highlights such as the release of giant sky lantern helium balloons as well as a stunning laser light show on the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival. Other performances include an interactive drama performance on the legends of Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese belly-dancing, live music performances and more.
Date: 7 & 8 September
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm)
Admission: No registration required