The Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th of the 8th lunar month, usually around mid- or late- September. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. At this time, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, marking an ideal time to celebrate the abundance of the summer's harvest.

Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the two most important traditional events for the Chinese; the other being the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon and eat moon cakes. It is also common to have barbecues outside under the moon.

In Melbourne Australia, Melbourne Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) hosts the Melbourne Moon Festival event once a year in Box Hill. The festival is one of the major event in Melbourne, attracting up to 50,000 people on the day. Please visit Melbourne Moon Festival for more information.