Sen. Leland Yee: Autumn Moon Festival Coming

I invite you to attend what has become a wonderful and exciting Sunset District community tradition. On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Sunset District Autumn Moon Festival Committee will host the fourth annual Autumn Moon Festival in the Sunset District.

This annual festival has become an integral part of San Francisco culture, and I am proud that we have extended this important celebration into our local neighborhood.

The Sunset District Autumn Moon Festival attracts thousands of people to enjoy a variety of product booths, delicious food, captivating entertainment and outstanding art. Many local organizations and merchants have participated in the planning, including the Tzu Chi Foundation and Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. A group of state agencies will also be present to bring government to the people and to distribute valuable public service information.

Attractions at the festival will include the popular "kids corner," which includes a bouncy house and animal petting zone.ÊA variety of food booths, including delicious bakery items, unique dragon beard candy, barbeque and vegetarian food will be available. There will also be demonstration booths with people of various talents and art work will be displayed.

The Sunset District Autumn Moon Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Irving Street, between 22nd and 25th avenues. Admission is free.

There is a long history to this traditional Chinese celebration. The Autumn Moon Festival is one of the most important holidays for the Chinese community. The festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. At this time, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, making it an ideal time to celebrate the abundance of the summer's harvest. The moon festival is a time for family reunions. In the evening, family members gather to have a delicious dinner.

The traditional food of the moon festival is the moon cake, of which there are many different varieties. In the Yuan Dynasty, China was once harshly ruled by the Mongols. The people devised a plan to revolt against them. To deliver the message, their written plan was secretly embedded in moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the people revolted and drove out the Mongols. Since then, moon cakes have become a popular staple of the festival.

The Sunset event is an opportunity for all San Francisco residents to share in the tradition and celebration of the Autumn Moon Festival.

This exciting street festival will bring together individuals, families, businesses, community leaders and organizations from not only the Sunset neighborhood, but all of San Francisco, to share in the pleasure of honoring an ancient custom. The festival is all-volunteer event, and was created to be a cultural community event for all to enjoy.

For more information about the Autumn Moon Festival, please visit the Web site at www.AutumnMoonFestival.org, or e-mail the committee at info@AutumnMoonFestival.org. I hope to see you there.

Sen. Leland Y. Yee is the assistant president pro tempore at the California state Senate.