VIDEO FEATURES SIGHTS, SOUNDS, LIONS, PARADE | Discover why thousands of neighbors gathered along SE 82nd Avenue of Roses to celebrate family, harvest traditions, and delicious regional cuisine …
Clouds overhead do not hinder a huge crowd from coming to the 5th Annual Mid-Autumn Festival, in the Foster-Powell neighborhood.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Despite a gloomy weather forecast of severe summer storms across the Portland metropolitan area for Saturday and Sunday, September 12–13, 2026, the heavy weather failed to materialize, yielding only brief showers on Saturday afternoon.
As skies cleared over the Foster-Powell neighborhood, the mouth-watering scent of savory foods cooking on open grills drew thousands of visitors to the parking lot of the Emmert Cali Saigon Mall, situated in front of the Shun Fat Supermarket on SE 82nd Avenue of Roses, near Foster Road.
Chef Johnny Vongbouthdy of Juicy JV’s Wings – a vendor who started his business at the first Mid Autumn Festival – grills savory sausages, beef, and chicken, sending mouth-watering aromas across the festival grounds.
Guests strolled past bustling rows of merchandise booths to find unique treasures before going on to crowd around the main stage for live music, dance, and traditional cultural performances.
Put on by The White Lotus Foundation, this two-day gathering has expanded into one of Oregon’s largest Asian-American cultural celebrations, creating a welcoming space where families, friends, and neighbors gather to celebrate reunion and gratitude.
Take a video tour of outer East Portland’s greatest cultural gathering:
Asian counterpart to Thanksgiving
White Lotus Foundation President Nhan Danh greeted visitors, and framed the purpose of the weekend gathering: “Today’s the fifth annual Portland Mid-Autumn Festival! It’s a time to celebrate community, friendship, culture, and the end of a great harvest season.”
White Lotus Foundation Executive Director Nhan Danh welcomes everyone to the 5th Annual Mid-Autumn Festival, in the Foster-Powell neighborhood.
Asked about the historical origins of the holiday across Asian cultures, Danh highlighted the agricultural heritage behind the tradition. “It was about celebrating the end of a harvest season. Our immigrants, many of them farmers, worked growing their crops and products through the end of the fall. When they get a great harvest, they want to give thanks to the deities, to the gods,” Danh told East Portland News.
“So, we have this festival, which is basically like an Asian version of Thanksgiving ,where we come together and celebrate the great fortune and success that we’ve had.”
Festivalgoers pause to take family photos at one of the popular backdrop stations featured during the two-day festival.
The cultural roots of the celebration span many nations, including Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
Asked whether the celebration is intended mostly for Asian residents, Danh rejected the idea. “No, never,” Danh declared. “This is open to the entire community. We definitely want to showcase a lot of the Asian American businesses and culture, but it is an open public event that welcomes all.”
That broad participation strengthens local ties throughout East Portland, Danh pointed out. “When all the cultures come together, it really helps build the outer East Portland Jade District community. The Jade District is built of many different cultures and backgrounds, and this celebration really exemplifies that.”
At this year’s festival, visitors find a wide variety of merchandise, cultural knickknacks, and artisan gifts among the 114 vendor booths.
White Lotus Market showcases local entrepreneurs
Central to the festival was the White Lotus Market, offering local Asian-owned small businesses, artists, and restaurants an opportunity to share their offerings. “This year we have 114 vendors,” Danh remarked.
He went on to detail the selection process required to fill the available spaces. “There’s a pool of applicants that come in every year – a little over 180 applicants. The reality here is that we can only accept around 120 spots. So everybody applies, and we just comb through the applications to make sure the product that they’re selling matches the theme that we’re going for.
Even in a photograph, the savory dishes cooking at the Chang Thai Delicious Foods booth evoke the rich culinary scents filling the festival air.
“Whether it’s food or knickknacks, as long as it represents the culture well in the most authentic way possible, you’ll have a spot here at the White Lotus Market,” Danh assured.
Every purchase made at the market directly supports neighborhood entrepreneurs, makers, and food vendors shaping the community, Danh pointed out.
Reaching the climax of their acrobatic act, lion dancers unfurl festive banners while precariously perched on high platforms above the cheering crowd.
Spectacular stage shows and an illuminated parade
Throughout the weekend, families enjoyed continuous stage performances celebrating traditional folklore and arts.
The White Lotus Lion Dance Team thrilled visitors of all ages with their signature acrobatic antics, bringing energy and rhythm to the festival grounds.
These volunteers from the White Lotus Foundation distribute handfuls of light sticks, in lieu of the traditional lanterns that were detained by US Customs.
The White Lotus “Magic Dragon” leads the illuminated parade as the sun sets on the 5th Annual Mid-Autumn Festival.
As evening set in, the celebration was capped off by an illuminated parade, in which families carried colorful lanterns through the plaza beneath the autumn sky, creating cherished memories of reunion and community.
Reflecting on the festival’s success, Danh commented what made it so special: “As long as we continue to represent our cultures in the most authentic way possible, we’ll continue to present the Portland Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Learn more about The White Lotus Foundation by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
