Tacoma Moon Festival returns Sept. 21

August 26, 2013 1:54 pm
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Last year's inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)
Last year's inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)

The Chinese Reconciliation Park in Tacoma will host the sights and sounds of many Asian cultures in September when the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation presents its second annual Tacoma Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is a popular Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness dating back over 3,000 years to China’s Zhou (pronounced “joe”) Dynasty. Since the festival models the traditional Moon Festival celebrated in China, the festivities and activities will feature Chinese and other moon legends and, as the festival closes at nightfall, a parade of lanterns led by the Moon Princess. The festival will also feature music, dance, and theatrical performers from a number of heritage communities, from Asia and the Pacific Islands to Europe and Mexico, who have made their homes in the Tacoma area. The festival will also include live entertainment and hands-on activities for adults and children. Festival goers will enjoy a variety of ethnic foods in the food court, including moon cakes, the Chinese pastries traditionally served during the Moon Festival. The food court will also feature a wine and beer garden. The festival will run from 12 p.m. noon to 8 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 21 at the Chinese Reconciliation Park, located at 1741 North Schuster Parkway.

Last year’s festival drew nearly 4,000 attendees, and more are expected this year. Major event sponsors and supporters include AAT-TV, Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, City of Tacoma, City of Taichung (Taiwan), Click! Cable TV, East Asia Supermarket, Arlene Joe and Richard Woo, James and Eileen Kelley, KO-AM TV, Korean Women’s Association, Local 76 IBEW, Pacific Lutheran University, Pacific Nephrology Associates, Port of Tacoma, Radio Hankook NW, Inc., Tangram Design, and University of Puget Sound.

Organizers for the festival are seeking community volunteers and involvement from the greater Puget Sound area to support the Tacoma Moon Festival as it returns to Tacoma’s waterfront. If interested in sponsoring or volunteering, please visit the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation online at TacomaChinesePark.org and facebook.com/TacomaMoonFestival.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park, click on the following links:

Last year's inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)

Last year’s inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)

Last year's inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)

Last year’s inaugural Tacoma Moon Festival drew nearly 4,000 visitors and included live music, face-painting for kids, dancing, and theatrical performances. (PHOTO COURTESY CHINESE RECONCILIATION PROJECT FOUNDATION)

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