SAN FRANCISCO — Chinatown's Autumn Moon Festival fills Grant Avenue this weekend with two days of performances, food, lion dancing and street events, and the organizer has posted a more detailed Sunday schedule since SF News Today first published this guide.
What are the festival hours?
The Chinatown Merchants Association lists the public festival for 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on Grant Avenue between California and Broadway.
SFMTA's transportation advisory describes event activity as running to 6 p.m. each day. For the visitor program, SF News Today is using the organizer's 11 a.m.–5 p.m. hours; transportation controls continue well beyond either time.
What is on the Saturday schedule?
Saturday starts with an 11 a.m. opening parade and ribbon cutting at California and Grant, followed by lion dance and martial arts. The main-stage schedule also includes Chinese folk dance, live performances and the K-pop Dance Contest from 1:15 to 2 p.m.
What is happening Sunday?
The organizer's main schedule currently lists White Crane at 11 a.m., Oakland GaGa Dance, Heiwa Taiko, the SF Guzheng Music Society, Grant Avenue Follies and other performances.
The main schedule now places the dumpling contest at 3–3:30 p.m. and the dragon parade at 4:45 p.m.
There is one source discrepancy worth flagging: the organizer's separate dumpling-contest registration page still shows a 2:45 p.m. contest time. If the dumpling contest is your main reason for going, check the festival site on Sunday before arriving.
Which streets close?
SFMTA says the closure runs from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20.
- Grant Avenue between California and Broadway
- Commercial Street between Grant and Kearny
- Waverly Place between Washington and Clay
The festival organizer also describes Pacific Avenue between Stockton and Kearny as pedestrian-only for visitor planning.
Are the 1 California and 12 Folsom/Pacific rerouted?
No planned reroutes. SFMTA says the 1 California and 12 Folsom/Pacific will continue operating through the area, though minor event-related delays are possible.
The organizer recommends public transit because of the anticipated crowd. Montgomery BART is one downtown approach, and the Portsmouth Square Garage is the organizer's listed public-parking option.