Moonlit Memories | Trung Thu – Moon Festival 2026

What will be happening Moonlit Memories is a free, one-day Moon Festival (Trung Thu) celebration hosted by Viet Hub NZ, bringing the warmth of Vietnam's festival of family, lanterns and children to Lower Hutt. The day opens with a hands-on cooking workshop from 10:00am to 12:00pm, where participants make their own mooncakes with guidance from a community facilitator. Cultural craft stations then run throughout the day, including paper lantern making, decorative mask making, and Moon Festival colouring for younger children, with face painting also available for tamariki. Cultural performances continue across the full programme, hosted by two MCs and featuring taiko drumming, a Chinese fan dance, a Vietnamese youth performance group, singers and a harp solo. The highlight of the day is a traditional lion dance. More than 10 food trucks and stalls will be on site, offering Vietnamese and wider Asian festival food alongside craft and community stalls. This gives attendees an authentic taste of the celebration and gives local small businesses and community groups a valuable platform. A check-in station welcomes visitors, guides them through the programme and offers spot prizes throughout the day. It sits alongside a Moon Festival photo backdrop, where families can capture a keepsake of the day. Who we want to attract The event is open to everyone and free to attend. We particularly want to reach rangatahi and young people, Vietnamese and wider Asian migrant families, and the general Wellington public who may be experiencing the Moon Festival for the first time. The programme is intergenerational and suits all ages. Colouring, mask making and face painting are aimed at tamariki aged roughly 4 to 12. Lantern making and the mooncake workshop suit ages 8 and up, including teenagers and adults. The performances, lion dance and food stalls are enjoyable for every age group, including grandparents and older community members. We expect a mix of families with young children, teenagers, adults and kaumātua. What attendees need to bring Nothing. Attendees simply need to turn up, as all materials, equipment and activities are provided free of charge. We suggest bringing a bag if you would like to carry home your lantern, mask or mooncakes, and a phone or camera for your own photos, but neither is necessary. Food and drink from the stalls can be purchased on the day. What will be provided We provide all workshop and craft materials, including mooncake ingredients, lantern paper, mask kits and colouring sheets. The venue is fully set up with sound equipment, bilingual signage and seating for performances. The event is staffed by trained volunteers and coordinators, with security wardens and waste management in place to keep the day safe, clean and welcoming.