By Sarah Shao.
DEERPARK, N.Y. — The Hudson Valley came alive with vibrant colors, sounds, and flavors as and estimated 20,000 people gathered at New Century’s 40-acre property near Port Jervis, New York, for the 10th Annual Moon Festival during the weekend of Sept. 20–21.
Celebrated in China and throughout East and Southeast Asia for thousands of years, the Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a time of reunion as families and friends gather to enjoy the full moon and pay their respects to the heavens.
As the region’s largest celebration of Asian culture and cuisine, this year’s event featured the soulful melodies of traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and pipa, the sweet aroma of mooncakes, and authentic dishes from China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Families bonded over crafting lanterns, playing with lucky moon rabbits, and bouncing in the moon bounce; all while embracing the Mid-Autumn Festival’s themes of reunion, gratitude, and harvest.
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A decade of cultural connection
Now a beloved Hudson Valley tradition, the Moon Festival began in 2015 in Otisville, initiated by Falun Gong practitioners to bridge cultures with the local community. Ms. Jin Pang, a key organizer since the event’s third year, described its growth:
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“We moved to New Century for more space and potential. Each year, we’ve nearly doubled in size—especially post-COVID, when we adapted with a farmers market format to keep the spirit of family reunion alive.”
This year’s 10th anniversary, held over two joyful days, featured an ancient Chinese village setup, dazzling lantern displays, and a people’s choice food competition with a $500 prize for the top vendor. With no admission fee apart from a $5 parking charge, the festival welcomes all, drawing visitors from as far away as Long Island.
Food was a highlight, with vendors showcasing Asia’s rich culinary heritage. Chef Luo Zizhao, a gold medalist in Cantonese cuisine from the Worldwide Chinese Cuisine Cooking Competition, delighted attendees with dishes such as his hometown specialty, Seafood Pancake Pot.
With 40 years of experience, Luo views cooking as a form of self-cultivation: “It requires compassion for ingredients, customers, and the seasons gifted by the gods. I feel a deep obligation to share China’s 5,000-year-old culinary traditions.” Noting the festival’s growing Western audience, he added, “It becomes more lively each year, and food brings us together, just like the Mid-Autumn Festival’s focus on reunion.”
Community spirit and kindness
Many members of the growing local Chinese-American community are practitioners of Falun Gong — also called Falun Dafa — a traditional Chinese faith group that is persecuted in its native country but thrives abroad, including in the United States.
Local organizations added warmth to the festivities. Angela Lee, the 76-year-old president of the Kindness Rotary Club, radiated positivity at her booth. A retired pharmacist recognized as one of the top in the U.S., Lee founded the club, inspired by her Rotary experience and the “kindness is cool” ethos of Ganjing World.
“Kindness connects everyone, no matter their background,” she said. Her Falun Gong practice since 1998—emphasizing truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance—aligns with Rotary’s motto of “service above self.” During COVID, Lee donated 1,000 masks to local groups, delivering them personally to show sincerity. At the festival, her team handed out cards with Chinese names written on them, sparking smiles among attendees.
A new booth, “Falun Dafa in Changchun,” debuted this year, by Li Guixiu. Highlighting Changchun, China — the hometown of Falun Dafa founder Mr. Li Hongzhi — the booth showcased the practice’s global reach since 1992, guided by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
Li shared, “We’re thrilled to introduce Falun Dafa’s positive impact on health and society, with core texts like Zhuan Falun translated into 50 languages.”
Unity in diversity and tradition
The festival welcomed diverse voices, including Michael Cox, a candidate for Orange County Legislator in District 13. A Port Jervis native and history teacher at Liberty High School, Cox praised the event’s inclusivity: “It’s vibrant, diverse, and rich in cultural history—perfect for my campaign theme of unity over politics.”
Advocating for improvements in infrastructure, schools, safety, and senior support, Cox emphasized, “Everyone has a seat at the table, just as this festival welcomed me.” His vision echoed the event’s spirit of togetherness.
A highlight of the festival were traditional perfomances put on by studenst and staff of Northern Academy, a day and boarding school dedicated to dance, music, and fine arts, with an emphasis on integrity, compassion, and forbearance.
The school, which nurtures character development through traditional values, has a diverse student body from nearly 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, India, Pakistan, France, Germany, Israel, Poland, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Turkey, and Vietnam.
This year’s show spotlighted traditional attire from Vietnam, China, India, and Bangladesh, celebrating intricate designs and cultural heritage. “Our values empower students to realize their greatest intellectual, artistic, moral, and physical potential,” a Northern Academy representative noted, as the vibrant parade of costumes dazzled the audience and honored Asia’s rich sartorial traditions.
Despite challenges such as parking and security, which were addressed through partnerships with local law enforcement, the festival’s organizers remain committed to growth.
Ms. Jin Pang is enthusiatic about the Moon Festival’s future: “As the largest Asian culture and food festival in the Hudson Valley, we’ll keep improving, working with the community to make it better each year.”
With non-stop performances by Fei Tian College, Northern Academy, and local groups like the YMCA and Warwick Ballet, the two-day festival dazzled audiences with dragon dances, classical Chinese performances, and a vibrant fashion show.
