Hundreds Enjoyed South Pasadena Moon Festival

Multicolored lanterns of all shapes and sizes hung from trees and lamp posts. Brightly colored streamers crisscrossed overhead, and dozens of festive Chinese decorations adorned the walls, inside and out.

On Saturday afternoon October 3, the South Pasadena Library Community Room and Library Park were transformed into an authentic Chinese-inspired venue to celebrate the annual mid-autumn festival, the Moon Festival. Several hundred members of the community of all ages attended the event.

Co-sponsored by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club, the City of South Pasadena, and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, the South Pasadena Moon Festival featured traditional music, dance, calligraphy, martial arts, a face-changing artist, crafts and 10 unique performances.

The event also conducted the popular “Food Challenge” contest in which teams competed to consume durian, Chinese yam, pickled shallot, a thousand-year-old egg, and bitter melon. Contests also tested noodle-eating capacity and sidewalk chalk-drawing artistry.

Treats included homemade cold noodles, egg rolls, sesame buns, cha siu boa, fried rice, boba, and, of course, moon cakes.

Inside the packed Library Community Room, children and adults enjoyed Chinese calligraphy, nail art, face painting, several different crafts and tattoos, and vendors offered unique items. A display sponsored by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California depicted various aspects of local Chinese history. Two representatives of the Miss Chinatown Court participated in the event.

A number of officials attending the event, including Judy Chu, Congresswoman, 27th District, who presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition to the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club “in recognition of your club’s high standards of excellence and outstanding achievements … your tireless efforts in supporting vital causes in the community has left a lasting and positive impact on society.”

For more information, visit http://www.spcc-web.org/.