SF’s Chinatown “Autumn Moon Festival”: Dumpling Contest & White Crane Dragon Parade

Calvin Jeng via SFCMA

Get ready for the 36th Annual San Francisco Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival, returning to Chinatown on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 11am to 5pm. The free two-day celebration takes over Grant Avenue between California and Broadway, with food vendors, mooncakes, kids activities, arts and crafts, lion dancing, martial arts, live music, cultural performances, and plenty of entertainment.

The festivities kick off Saturday morning with an 11am opening parade and ribbon-cutting ceremony at California and Grant, followed by a lion dance and martial arts performance from the Yau Kung Moon Association. The weekend’s lineup also includes Chinese folk dance, taiko, guzheng, K-pop, live bands, and other cultural performances on the main stage at Washington and Grant.

One of the weekend’s highlights is the new K-Pop Dance Contest, happening Saturday afternoon. Solo dancers, duos, and groups of up to eight performers can take the stage to show off their best K-pop choreography. Registration is free, although space is limited. On Sunday, the festival brings back its dumpling contest at 2:45pm, where contestants can compete in a fast and tasty eating showdown.

Sunday’s festivities wrap up with the Closing White Crane Dragon Parade at 4:30pm. The festival is free to attend, and Grant Avenue will be pedestrian-only between California and Broadway, with Pacific Avenue between Stockton and Kearny also closed to vehicles. Because of the expected crowds, organizers strongly encourage visitors to take public transit.