Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s much-loved Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival returns this year with a twist, teaming up with Jurong Lake Gardens and the National Parks Board for Lights by the Lake 2026 at the Chinese Garden. Best of all, the festivities are free.
Happening from 19 to 27 September 2026, visitors can look forward to a line-up of cultural experiences celebrating Chinese arts, culture and heritage, from a self-guided stamp rally to storytelling sessions and hands-on craft stations amid the Chinese Garden’s scenic setting.
A stamp rally inspired by Madame White Snake
The brand-new Xiao Qing’s Special Delivery stamp rally invites visitors to follow a story inspired by the Legend of Madame White Snake, collecting landmark stamps around the Chinese Garden. Complete the rally to receive a special keepsake, with redemption at the Bonsai Garden on 19, 20 and 25 to 27 September from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. The rally itself runs daily from 19 September to 4 October during Chinese Garden opening hours.
Storytelling, lanterns and hanfu
Over at the Bonsai Garden, drop-in activities run on selected evenings from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Make your own glowing lantern, dress up in traditional hanfu for a complimentary photo keepsake, try multi-layered stamp printing, or explore Chinese garden design and mooncake traditions through the Gardens, Games & Heritage stations.
Popular storytelling sessions, Tales of Mid-Autumn Festival, take place on 20 September (Mandarin) and 27 September (English) at 6.45pm and 7.30pm at the Tea Pavilion, with local authors and storytellers such as Shirley Ong and Priscilla Wong.
Two travelling exhibitions
Running from 19 September to 4 October, the “Mid-Autumn Festival: A Taste of Reunion” travelling exhibition at the Grand Arch explores the festival’s themes of family reunion, featuring Singapore’s mooncake moulds and artisanal makers. A second exhibition, “Wan Qing Yuan: A Journey Through History and Heritage”, traces the villa once known as Bin Chan House and its place in Balestier’s history.
There’s plenty for younger visitors too, with a free Uncle Ting activity booklet introducing the legend of Chang’e and Mid-Autumn customs through fun, hands-on tasks (limited to one per child, while stocks last).
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, a National Monument gazetted in 1994, is currently closed for restoration but continues to organise Chinese cultural events across the island. More information is available at sysnmh.org.sg.
Marking the festival elsewhere? See our Mid-Autumn lantern map, ideas for a Mid-Autumn with the kids, and more things to do this weekend.
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival @ Lights by the Lake 2026 runs 19 to 27 September at the Chinese Garden, Jurong Lake Gardens. Admission is free.
