On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the moon is at its fullest and roundest, and the city becomes a flurry of mooncakes, dancing incense and lanterns. Check out our guide to make sure you don’t miss the best of this festival.

Fire Dragon Dance
After cholera struck the sleepy village of Tai Hang in the 1880s, a village elder claimed that Buddha advised him to dance through the streets with a giant fire dragon. The sulphur which had emitted from the smoke eliminated the disease, and everyone lived happily ever after… or so the story goes. The tradition continues to the present day, with the annual parade of a giant 67m-long incense dragon dancing through the streets of Tai Hang and beyond.

Tai Hang: Sep 11 (7.30pm-10.30pm), Sep 12 (7.30pm), Sep 13 (7.30pm-10.30pm)
Causeway Bay: Soccer pitch #4-5, Sep 12 (10.15pm-11.15pm)
Pok Fu Lam: Village, Sep 12 (6.30pm-10pm)

Lantern Carnivals and Exhibitions
To mimic the big and bright moon, children carry colourful lanterns in the shape of animals or cartoon characters. The paper and open flame lanterns of yesteryear have since been replaced with inflatable, LED-lit musical toys on rods, but the tradition still remains. In addition, carnivals across town display lanterns from local artists with plenty of games and activities for the kids. Some are larger than life, like a 37m-tall fish hoping to break a Guinness World Record.

Carnivals
New Territories West: Tin Shui Wai Park and Ginza Square, Fri 9-Tue 13 (7.30pm-10.30pm)
New Territories East: Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza, Fri 9-Tue 13 (8pm-11pm)
Urban: Victoria Park, Fri 9-Tue 13 (7.30pm-10.30pm)

Exhibitions
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza: Thu 1-Oct 9 (6.30pm-11pm)
West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade: Thu 1-Sun 18 (6.30pm-11pm)
Hong Kong City Hall: Exhibition Hall, Thu 8-Sat 17 (10am-7pm)

Mooncakes
The combination of sweet lotus seed paste, salted duck egg and pastry may be an acquired taste, but it’s a very essential part of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. The cooking process is labour-intensive, so nowadays most purchase mooncakes from bakeries or restaurants. But you can still learn to make these little desserts (and their modern-day interpretations) at various outlets across town. Reservations are required.
Vero Chocolates: Learn to make delicate, ganache-filled and decorated chocolate mooncakes. Price includes lesson, ingredients, food, snacks and a personalised chef’s jacket. $1,560 per person. Until Tue 6. www.verochocolates.com
Towngas Cooking Centre: Hong Kong-invented snowy mooncakes typically please most palates. Learn to make them in black sesame, coffee, chestnut and the original green bean flavours from scratch. Bring your own apron and container. $340 per person. Until Sat 10. www.towngascooking.com
Twins Co: Make your own healthy version of traditional Canton lotus seed paste mooncakes with reduced egg yolk. Price includes everything you need but an apron. $250 per person. Until Mon 12. www.twinsco.com

Andrea Yu