Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Richmond

The warmest days of summer might be behind us, but there’s something equally appealing to look forward to at this time of year. The 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up on September 25. And that means festive events, family traditions and plenty of mooncakes are popping up across Richmond. Ready to celebrate? Read on.

Observed by cultures throughout Asia––including China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea and Japan––the festival started thousands of years ago when successful harvests were critical to every community. The ancients believed that honouring the moon during fall would help deliver bounties for the coming year. And that meant offering treats to keep the moon on their side.

These days, the event isn’t just about wishing for great harvests. It’s also a perfect opportunity for families and friends to gather and celebrate together––much like North America’s Thanksgiving revelries. These warm and embracing gatherings are the cornerstone of the latter-day Mid-Autumn Festival––along with sharing and savouring those famously rich cakes.

FESTIVITIES GALORE

Richmond is a great place to experience Mid-Autumn Festival traditions, with a variety of family-friendly events taking place across the city. Check out some of the upcoming events below.

BRITANNIA SHIPYARDS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

5180 Westwater Drive, Richmond, BC
September 19, 20, 26 & 27 (10:00am to 4:00pm)

Immerse yourself in Mid-Autumn Festival traditions at this free-entry, family-friendly event. Hosted in the Chinese Bunkhouse building, visitors will be able to craft their own paper red lanterns––an important symbol of good fortune, light and prosperity. Participants can also design and form their own ideal version of a mooncake from playdough (don’t try to eat it, though!). While you’re here, save time to explore the rest of the eight-acre heritage site with its fishing and shipyard sheds and artifact displays.

GATEWAY THEATRE

6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond, BC
September 20 (2:00pm)

The city’s much-loved Gateway Theatre is hosting a special Mid-Autumn Melodies event this year––and it’s taking place in two adjoining venues. Book ahead and bring all your friends and family and you’ll be treated to a musical matinee concert inside the historic Minoru Chapel, where Jason Sakaki and Tiana Yung will perform popular songs from famous musicals and Disney movies. Next, you’ll step across to the main theatre venue for delicious mooncakes and lantern craft activities. Tickets are $25 each (youth aged 18 and under $15).

LANSDOWNE CENTRE

5300 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C.
September 26 (11:00am to 4:00pm) for activities; September 26 & 27 (11:00am to 4:00pm) for artisan market

Head to Lansdowne for this year’s special Mid-Autumn Moon Rabbit Celebration, complete with lantern-making crafts, a riddle game and meet-and-greet opportunities with real-life bunnies from Richmond’s Rabbitats Rescue Society. Participation is dependent on showing receipts for same-day spending in the mall of at least $38. Alternatively, why not book ahead for a delightful 45-minute yoga session alongside the rabbits (tickets $25)! In addition, there will be an artisan market plus more craft activities on both September 26 and 27.

MOONCAKE EXTRAVAGANZA

Of course, no Mid-Autumn Festival celebration would be complete without mooncakes. Shaped like full moons, mooncakes have been a staple of Mid-Autumn festivities for centuries. With ornately patterned tops, their thin, pie-like casing encloses a dense, typically sweet paste that’s traditionally flavoured with lotus seed, red bean or salted egg yolk. They are perfect for sharing in small wedges rather than fully consuming solo––unless you haven’t eaten since breakfast.

Many locals have favourite Richmond bakeries they return to annually to pick up their Mid-Autumn treats. But if you’re looking for a new place this year or keen to sample mooncakes for the first time, we’ve rounded up several city favourites below. One piece of advice: if you’re planning a gathering for your friends and family, be sure to order ahead of time.

DAAN GO CAKE LAB  

#100 – 4731 Garden City Road, Richmond, BC 

Opened in Richmond three years ago, Daan Go has quickly gained an enthusiastic following for its inventive treats––including its highly creative mooncakes. This year, they are offering a four-piece Traditional Mooncake Set (with four different flavours) as well as an enticing Snow Skin Mooncake Set, which includes Mango Cheesecake, Salted Egg Yolk, Jamocha Nut and Hojicha Black Sesame Crunch varieties.

KAM DO BAKERY

#130 – 6211 No. 3 Road & 120 – 4328 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC 

There are two locations of this bright and inviting Richmond favourite, each serving a year-round variety of tempting Hong Kong-style pastries such as sausage buns and flaky egg tarts. But at Mid-Autumn time, it’s also a go-to city hotspot for luscious, handcrafted mooncakes. This year, Kam Do is offering two classic varieties: White Lotus Seed Paste and Twin Yolks White Lotus Seed Paste.

L’OTUS CAKE BOUTIQUE

#103 – 8580 Cambie Road & 140 – 7951 Alderbridge Way, Richmond, BC  

Famous for its multi-layered crepe cakes, L’otus is also serving up three elegantly presented mooncake gift boxes this year, with six-piece or two-piece options available. Alongside their ever-popular Golden Lava Custard classic––don’t miss this if you haven’t yet tried it––you’ll find deliciously enticing options such as Black Truffle Lava, Matcha-Yuzu Lava and Velvety Mocha Lava.

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Tourism Richmond