By Joe Anuta
One of the biggest holidays in Chinese culture is rapidly approaching, and several organizations in Flushing will be celebrating in style with concerts, a parade and fireworks.
The Moon Festival, which is Sept. 30 this year, is typically a time to gather with family and friends over a big meal and reminisce with each other under the glowing celestial orb.
Families all over the borough will be celebrating in their homes, but there will be no shortage of events downtown.
First, there will be an opportunity for youngsters to fly kites in Kissena Corridor Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to the Flushing Development Corp.
Queens Botanical Garden will also host an evening of family fun from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., beginning with arts and crafts for children followed by performances from the New York Chinese Cultural Center, which will have classic and folk dances as well as music. Families are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and summer chairs to enjoy the performances, according to the garden.
From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., a Moon Festival parade will march down Main Street, from 40th Road to Elder Avenue. Groups from the parade will be performing at Kissena Corridor Park before a fireworks show at 8 p.m., according to the corporation.
Enjoying the full moon with the family is a Chinese tradition dating back about 1,500 years and often compared to the western holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the family spirit involved. The most famous food associated with the festival is the moon cake.
Moon cakes are flaky, round, semi-sweet pastries often filled with bean or lotus-seed paste and topped with a duck egg, echoing the shape of the full moon.
The garden’s event is free with the purchase of an admission ticket: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children. The remaining events organized by the Flushing Development Corp. are free.
