California State Parks Celebrates Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
Contact:
Jack Frost
Historical Guide
Northern Buttes District
(530) 623-5284
The public is invited to a special celebration on Saturday, Oct. 4
Historic Monument Guide Jack Frost will lead free public tours at the Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds. Photo from California State Parks.
WEAVERVILLE — History will come alive when a traditional Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is presented at the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park (SHP). California State Parks and the Weaverville Joss House Association invite the public to this free special event on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is an immensely popular celebration of togetherness dating back over 3,000 years to China’s Zhou Dynasty,” said Historical Guide Jack Frost. “Our celebration in Weaverville gives guests a place to come together and enjoy the changing season. It is a time when families gather to watch the harvest moon rise.”
The Chinese Moon Festival is known by many names. The festival signifies and celebrates the end of the harvest season and is sometimes referred to as a Harvest Festival. Others may refer to the festival by the more traditional name of Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s also known as the Mooncake Festival, owing to a traditional treat, the mooncake, shaped round like the full moon and made specially for the festival. The festival traditionally takes place on a full moon during the eighth month — the Harvest Moon — on the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds, built in 1874, is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. Activities include free tours of the temple and an opportunity for children to decorate Chinese lanterns and other Mid-Autumn Moon Festival art. Tea tasting and refreshments will be provided by the Weaverville Joss House Association.
WHAT: Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHERE: Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
630 Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093
Weaverville Joss House SHP is located in the southwest corner of Highway 299 and Oregon Street in Weaverville.
California State Parks welcomes all visitors. For more information about the event or if members of your group have accessibility needs, please contact the park at (530) 623-5284 in advance to arrange accommodations.You can also get updates by following the park’s Facebook page.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.