By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Who says you need falling leaves and pumpkin spice-everything to celebrate Autumn? Certainly not Sydney! In fact, as the city soaks up Spring sunshine, it is flipping the script with a fest that’s traditionally all about harvest moons and crisp nights.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is back – and once again, the home of Australia’s most iconic harbour will serve up a sensory celebration of colour, flavour and tradition, inviting locals and visitors alike to revel in the spirit of gratitude and togetherness…even if the only thing falling from the trees is jacaranda petals!
Leading the charge is Gong Grocer, which is hosting its first-ever Mid-Autumn Food Festival at World Square from Saturday, October 4 to Monday, October 6. The three-day event promises an immersive cultural celebration and it’s completely free for all attendees. Visitors can wander through a bustling precinct alive with aromas, music and the rhythm of traditional lion dance performances, all while enjoying family-friendly entertainment designed to bring the festival to life.
At the heart of the festival are the live cooking demonstrations by some of Sydney’s most exciting culinary talents. Celebrity Chefs Vincent Lim (Dimsimlim), Catherine Desserts and Brendan Pang will guide audiences through their creations, offering free tastings to all who gather to watch.
Joining them are local favourites Therese Lum, Liz Miu, Steph Feher and Veronica Indrawan, who will also showcase signature dishes, highlighting the strength and diversity of Asian food culture in Australia.
Foodies will find plenty to delight in beyond the demonstrations. A standout feature is the Labubu mooncake-making experience, hosted by Sydney-based bakery G-LAB Patisserie. These interactive sessions allow guests to participate in creating Labubu mooncakes, treats that combine traditional techniques with modern design.
Visitors can also sample premium sake from renowned Japanese breweries including Umenoyado, Tatenokawa and Chiebijin, enjoy handmade cakes and mochi from 12Cake, and taste Taiwanese street foods and mooncakes from Ommis Foods.
Gong Grocer has also curated a dedicated activity zone where festival-goers of all ages can try their hand at games like spin-the-wheel and the Big Chopstick Challenge. Every game guarantees a prize, from Labubu collectibles and bespoke plushies to mystery mooncake boxes, branded towels and keychains.
Whether it is the food, the fun or the culture that draws you, the festival offers a fully immersive experience that captures the joy and festivity of the Mid-Autumn celebration.
Across the city, the festival will also find a personal expression among Sydney’s Korean community. For Joanne Lee, Executive Head Chef of Butchers Buffet, Gyuniku and Shabuway, the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival, or Chuseok as it is known in Korea, is a deeply personal tradition.
"Some of my best childhood memories are tied to Chuseok,” she reflects. "I remember making hundreds of Songpyeon with my mother and sisters. Even today, preparing dishes like japchae takes me straight back to those moments. Being able to create them for our customers now feels especially meaningful.”
This passion will be on display at Butcher's Buffet - which features traditional Chuseok specialties like beef japchae potato noodle, Wagyu brisket bulgogi, kimchi fried rice, crispy Korean pancakes, spicy rice cakes (Tteokbokki) and family recipe kimchi.
From sit-down meals to stall strolling through the bustling tables of Chinatown, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Sydney blends food, culture and community, offering a space for families and friends to gather, reflect and share in the harvest’s bounty.
Whether it is crafting a Labubu mooncake, sampling premium sake, watching a lion dance or enjoying a Korean feast, Sydney’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival invites everyone to partake in a celebration of tradition, culinary creativity and the simple joy of coming together under a full (ironically, not Autumn) Southern Hemisphere Spring moon.
