The Chinatown Merchants Association will present the 17th Annual Celebration of the City’s Autumn Moon Festival the weekend of September 6-7, 2008, from 11am to 6pm each day. During the Moon Festival, Chinatown’s historic Grant Avenue will become a pedestrian-only bazaar with live entertainment between California and Broadway, as will Pacific Street between Stockton and Kearny streets. Parade is Saturday at 11am.

The Moon Festival, Chinatown’s best-attended annual event for several years running, marks a significant holiday on the Chinese lunar calendar. To mark its celebration, several stages throughout Chinatown will feature a variety of live entertainment acts. Among the performers this year will be a host of Asian-themed dancers and drummers, traditional and contemporary musicians including martial artists, and magicians. Hourly lion dance performances will take place along famous Grant Avenue. New this year, will be a photo display of the winning entries of its first annual Moon Festival photo contest sponsored by the Chinatown Merchants Association and the Chinatown Photo Society. Chang O

The Festival’s many street vendors will offer visitors the best shopping around on everything from plants to housewares, clothes and souvenirs. And, as always, Moon Festival sponsors will join Chinatown merchants in presenting a variety of special offers, activities, arts and crafts, and food along the main festival route. The famous Dragon will close the festivities at 5pm on Sunday. Attendance at the Moon Festival is always high, so the public is encouraged to use BART or MUNI to reach Chinatown