The city of Irvine in Orange County, in cooperation with the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, held the second annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Great Park on September 13th (Friday).
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional holiday in many Asian countries, and in recent years, it has also become popular among Westerners. Mooncakes can now be found in places like Costco and the American boutique cake brand Lady M. The Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival featured booths showcasing education, entertainment, handicrafts, food, and cultural displays. In addition to the East Asian and Southeast Asian communities participating in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, there were also many mainstream Westerners joining in the festivities.
On the day of the festival, over 10,000 people flocked to the event. Zhang Huiling, a member of the Orange County Overseas Chinese Affairs Promotion Committee, participated in the Mid-Autumn Festival for the first time under the banner of “Team Taiwan.” The booth was decorated with a large Team Taiwan banner as the backdrop, with the Taiwan flag, Taiwan black bear, and Taiwan tourist map prominently displayed at the front. Various promotional materials introducing Taiwanese culture and tourism were placed on the table, while “Team Taiwan” music played through the speakers, attracting a crowd of people.
Zhang Huiling expressed her delight in introducing “Taiwan” to people of all ethnicities and enjoying the Mid-Autumn Festival with American citizens. Through the Team Taiwan booth, the community got to see Taiwan, which not only increased Taiwan’s visibility but also promoted Taiwanese culture.