On Saturday, October 4, the Chinese community of Acton, joined by neighbors from surrounding towns, came together at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (ABRHS) auditorium to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a beloved tradition honoring harvest and family reunions.
The festival was co-organized by the Jasmine Cultural Arts Foundation, Acton Chinese American Civic Society (ACACS), Concord Carlisle Chinese Club (C4), Chinese American Association of Sudbury (CAAS), and Weston WeStar. This collaboration across five towns brought audiences an evening filled with cultural performances, traditional foods, and community celebration.
Before the performances, guests enjoyed traditional Chinese foods such as steamed buns, egg pancakes, tanghulu, cookies, and, of course, mooncakes. Families took photos with a Mid-Autumn-themed backdrop and joined activities including face painting.
Local leaders joined in the festivities, including State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Representative Carmine Gentile, along with community leaders from Acton, Sudbury, and Concord.
Sen. Eldridge later wrote on Facebook:
“We are both so proud to represent such a diverse constituency, including a growing Chinese immigrant and Chinese American community that enriches the fabric and culture of Massachusetts! Great night, and thanks to activist Shaw Yang for introducing us to so many attendees, including several high school journalists! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! And I highly recommend the Red Bean Mooncakes!”
The evening show featured a rich lineup of performances from talented local artists, including Acton-Boxborough students, and dancers from the Acton School of Ballet. Highlights included the MIT Lion Dance Team, a Sichuan Opera face-changing master from Worcester, martial arts demonstrations by New Wushu Academy of Acton, and classical music performances from Groton-Dunstable Regional High School students.
Joyce Dong, artistic director of the festival and director of the Jasmine Cultural Arts Foundation, shared, “The Jasmine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering cultural exchange and inclusivity in the arts, with a special focus on empowering young cultural artists by providing a platform that amplifies their voices and talents. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the events we are proud to host as part of our mission to build a more beautiful and inclusive community.”
Juliet Dong, a senior at ABRHS, is an award-winning dancer, specializing in ballet, contemporary, Chinese and K-pop dance, who has taught and mentored youth in dance programs.
Meghan Li is a freshman at ABRHS. She specializes in Chinese folkloric dance, ballet, and K-pop, and she has taught dance to individuals of all ages. She has received multiple awards for her performances, along with recognition for her writing and visual arts, including being a winner of Stone Soup’s Monthly Writing Contest and receiving Best of Show in the Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest.
