Best things to do to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival this year

Tai O art community group, Tai O Fei Mao Li, is back to bring city dwellers a glistening Mid-Autumn Festival this year as the annual Tai O Lantern Festival returns. Lighting up the streets of Hong Kong's mini Venice, the festival features a slew of handmade lanterns in all shapes and colours; all made and decorated by Tai O locals and volunteers.

Unfortunately, due to the surge of visitors over the weekend, organisers of the Tai O Water Village Lantern Festival will be suspending the lantern lighting on September 21, 22, 27, and 28. The festival will still run until the end of the month, but lanterns on the village's two main bridges will not be lit. Stay up to date with the latest arrangements on Tai O Fei Mao Li's official Facebook page.

If you do decide to visit, please be reminded not to disturb the local villagers and be respectful of their privacy.

Wong Tai Sin Temple is celebrating its 100th anniversary this Mid-Autumn Festival, and Temple Mall is joining in on the fun! Open from now until October 4, the 3.5-metre-tall Golden Autumn Lumiere interactive installation will give you the perfect 'grammable moment with mirror walls and hanging lanterns that will change colour in sync with your movements. The mall, along with Wong Tai Sin Temple, will also be decked out in a dazzling display of Chinese zodiac-inspired lanterns. From September 18 to 24, visitors can even head to the Sik Sik Yuen Centennial Carnival at Wong Tai Sin Temple to collect stamps from different booth games. Those who successfully fill up their ‘Carnival Passport’  with nine stamps can then redeem a mini lantern too!

Can't decide where to go to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival this year? You'll never be disappointed at Lee Tung Avenue. With over 688 red, pink, green, and purple lanterns hanging high above the boulevard, the Lanterns to the Moon display is the perfect place to enjoy the festivities.

Aside from a beautiful sea of lights, Lee Tung Avenue has also partnered up with Dreamcatcher and Make-A-Wish Hong Kong to launch the Handcrafted Avenue charity market (held on September 18 and 19) in order to raise funds for children in sickness. Visitors will be able to browse through an array of handmade goods – think handmade soaps, scented candles, paintings, and jewellery – from more than 30 different local brands, including  OYTY Handmade Leather Studio, Woody Madam, Chill House, Happy Soap, and many more.

Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, numerous lantern decorations are set up by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department across the city. This year, the festive displays will be held at Victoria Park, Sha Tin Park, and Tin Shui Wai Park (until September 22), while a special lighting installation will be on display (until October 3) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza.

Those residing on the Island side can head to Victoria Park and check out the colourful six-metre-tall merry-go-round lantern crafted by local papercraft master Hui Ka-hung. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, take a trip to Tin Shui Wai Park where a five-metre-tall phoenix will light up alongside different animal lanterns, or visit Sha Tin Park to see a glowing display of sea creatures such as clownfish, dolphins, turtles, and jellyfish. Last but definitely not least, visitors can make their way to TST to discover an awe-striking light installation – titled The Other Side of the Moon – created by local artist Dylan Kwok at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. 

Before you visit any of the light displays, be sure to read through the guidelines and safety measures here.

Ocean Park's much-awaited Water World is opening its doors to the public on September 21! Comprised of five zones – Splendid Reef, Torrential River, Thrill Valley, Adventure Coast, and Hidden Village – the park will be the perfect place to hit up for friends and family over the holiday.

Veer away from traditions this Mid-Autumn Festival and check out all the exciting events and happenings taking place around town this month!

What better way to admire the moon during Mid-Autumn Fest than heading up to one of Hong Kong's best rooftop bars? Not only will you have great views of the city's skyline, but you'll also get to enjoy it with a drink in hand. If you're looking for more bars to try out, visit one of these new drinking dens.

With Mid-Autumn coming up and bars extending their Negroni Week until the end of the month, we have plenty of reason to celebrate with a drink in hand. To help you narrow your search, here are our editor’s lists of the best places to hit up for drink deals, new cocktail menus, and new product releases this September. 

Treat yourself and your loved ones to a feast this holiday and visit a brand new restaurant in the city, or settle down for a scrumptious meal at one of Hong Kong's top 50 restaurants.