‘Mid-Autumn Festival’ moves back to Foster-Powell neighborhood

INCLUDES DRAGON MARCHING VIDEO | If you didn’t go, you might be amazed at how successful this late-summer tradition has become in outer East Portland …

Year by year, the Portland Mid-Autumn Festival continues to grow in popularity, becoming one of the best attended two-day events in outer East Portland.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Because it’s become so popular, organizers of the Portland Mid-Autumn Festival expanded this year’s event to two days, on the weekend of October 4 and 5.

Also, this year, the event was non-ticketed — open and free for all to come and enjoy — without standing in a sometimes blocks-long entrance line.

Helping pass out some of the 500 lanterns distributed free for the “Lantern Parade” are Executive Director Nhan Danh, and co-founders Sydney Lau and Lisa Mai.

“This two-day festival brings together community, tradition, and cultural understanding through food, live performances, and family activities,” White Lotus Foundation Executive Director Nhan Dhan told East Portland News.

“Because it has become so well-attended, we needed to expand the area to accommodate all of the 100 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) vendors who wanted to be part of it,” Dhan said.

Take a video tour with us — of our afternoon and evening at the
2025 Portland Mid-Autumn Festival:

“So, we’re happy the festival was accommodated here at the Shun Fat Supermarket, in the Emmert Cali Saigon Mall, where we were holding our summer night markets this year,” Dhan reminded.

Shopping in the marketplace, and dining on traditional Asian (and American) food, are big parts of the Portland Mid-Autumn Festival experience.

In addition to food, booths — like the “Suyubun” shop — sell stickers and other popular branded items.

Asked about the importance of this celebration to the AAPI community, Dhan explained, “It’s based on one of the most widely celebrated traditions across East and Southeast Asia.

“Known as Tết Trung Thu in Vietnam and Zhong Qiu Jie in China, this festival honors family reunions, encourages gratitude, and the celebrates the harvest moon,” he said

The rising Dragon is a sign that the “Lantern Parade” is about to begin.

Some just watch, but hundreds join the “Lantern Parade” behind the White Lotus Dragon, as it dances through the festival grounds.

During the two-day celebration, the festival featured cultural showcases on the main stage, offering dance and music to martial arts. A highlight of each evening was the “Lantern Parade” – where families got free lanterns and joined in behind the White Lotus “lucky dragon” as they walked around the event.

As the sun dips below the horizon, the festival turns into a lively “night market”.

After dark, food vendors work quickly to keep up with the demands of hungry guests.

“Even more than simply providing a cultural event for the Asian community, the Portland Mid-Autumn Festival helps residents of the greater Portland area learn more about our culture — thus bringing us all more into a feeling of community,” Dhan said.

For more information about the White Lotus Foundation, see their website: CLICK HERE.

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