Update 6 August 2024
The Dominion Road Business Association today announced the postponement of its 2024 Dominion Road Moon Festival to October 2025 due to unforeseen circumstances. While the main Dominion Road event has been delayed, the spirit of the Moon Festival will remain strong in the community.
The Balmoral Chinese Business Association is exploring options to host a smaller Moon Festival event on the weekend prior, separate from the Dominion Road Business Association’s plans for 2025.
Albert-Eden Local Board chair, Kendyl Smith recognises it’s a challenging time.
“We are sorry to hear about this postponement and appreciate it's a tough space to be in. This board has long supported the festival and its organisers, and know that this decision would not have been reached without exploring every possible alternative.
"We wish the festival organisers all the best for the next event,” she says.
Dominion Road Business Association Manager Gary Holmes, stated, "While we are disappointed to postpone our full-scale festival, we understand the importance of keeping the Moon Festival spirit alive.
"We encourage everyone to enjoy the celebrations planned by the Balmoral Chinese businesses and those along Dominion Road. We are confident that our main event will return stronger than ever in 2025."
For further information please contact:
Gary Holmes, Manager – Dominion Rd Business Association
0274 966283
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Albert-Eden over the moon to support festival
It’s big, bright and back for another year – the Dominion Road Moon Festival is confirmed to take over Balmoral Village and surrounding streets on Friday 13 September through to Sunday 15 September 2024.
The festival features performances, carnival rides, displays, lanterns, parades, food stalls, markets and much more, with applications now open for vendors and stallholders.
Albert-Eden Local Board chair Kendyl Smith says the board is thrilled to be supporting the Dominion Road Moon Festival and is looking forward to another fantastic event.
“It’s a huge festival for our community and the region, bringing people together from all sides of the melting pot of cultures that is Auckland,” she explains.
“We are proud to be supporting Dominion Road Business Association and the Dominion Road Moon Festival Committee on this event as one of our priorities is for local people to thrive, to have a strong sense of connection to Albert-Eden and to celebrate our differences.
“It’s really important to the local board that our community is encouraged to feel included, connected to others and have a sense of belonging.”
Dominion Road Business Association Manager, Gary Holmes is looking forward to hosting the vibrant three-day festival.
“The annual celebration is an exciting one for all our businesses and there’s always a good buzz in the air. Events like these are also vital for attracting visitors and providing opportunities for local businesses to contribute to our economic growth,” he says.
“It wouldn’t be possible without the local board, so we’re grateful for its contribution.”
The Dominion Rd Moon Festival, New Zealand’s leading Moon Festival experience, kicks off on Friday 13 September and wraps up on Sunday 15 September, with 50,000 visitors expected and more than 200 volunteers working behind the scenes.
Festival committee director, Gavin Zhang has big aspirations for the future of this event.
“With Auckland’s diversity shining through more as the city grows, we want this festival to be celebrated by everyone just as we all celebrate Matariki, Diwali and the Lunar New Year,” he says.
The hugely popular Dominion Rd Moon Festival has grown exponentially as the region’s pivotal Moon Festival celebration and continues to lead the understanding of this important festival within the neighbourhood.
The Moon Festival also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated across Asia for centuries, traditionally to pray for the autumn harvest when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, with the harvest season being tied to the moon cycle.
For some, the full moon represents reunion and so it is a time that families reunite to appreciate the moon, celebrate meals together and exchange moon cakes – a highly sought-after delicacy at this time of year.
Stay tuned to find the moon cake recipe and everything there is to know about Dominion Road Moon Festival here: moonfestival.nz
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