Lively Mid-Autumn Celebrations: Taichung’s “Moon Champion of Taiwan” Gala & Food Carnival

Text / Compiled and Reported by Chi Binghui

The consecutive holidays of the Mid-Autumn Festival are just around the corner, and exciting activities across counties and cities are highly anticipated. This year, Taichung City’s “Moon Champion of Taiwan” Mid-Autumn Gala is pioneering a collaboration with the Greater Taichung Food Carnival for the first time. It will take place on Mid-Autumn Festival, September 12th, from 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Plaza of Taichung City’s New Government Building. The event features international, heritage, family-friendly, entertainment, and cultural elements, and the public is welcome to join.

Taichung Mayor Hu Tzeng-hsien stated that the “Moon Champion of Taiwan” has entered its 12th year and has become part of residents’ lives. This year, with the merger of Greater Taichung’s cities and counties, the merger symbolizes reunion. Hence, it is specially combined with the Greater Taichung Food Carnival. In addition to enjoying good mooncakes during Mid-Autumn, the mayor hopes the public will also pair them with a good cup of tea. Mayor Hu emphasized that the best tea in the world comes from Taichung City. Aside from Lishan tea exported to mainland China, there is also bubble tea, which is famous worldwide. Whether produced in or sold through Taichung, further promotion is planned in the future to make bubble tea an indispensable treat for all Chinese people during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year’s event draws inspiration from the moon’s “tapioca pearls” (commonly known as boba), incorporating Taichung’s internationally renowned bubble tea into the theme and designating it as the “Greater Taichung Bubble Tea Festival.” The goal is to combine the two most representative events and foods of Greater Taichung, offering the public a fresh experience. The Mid-Autumn Gala lineup is also spectacular, hosted by the food duo 2MORO from the show “Foodie Family,” and featuring performances by artists such as Afu (Deng Fu-ru), J.Lawrence (Yen-J), MATZKA, and HOT SHOCK. There will also be performances by Taichung’s Chinese Music Princess Group and Ukrainian festival dances from Lihpao Moonworld Amusement Park.

In addition, on the afternoon of Mid-Autumn Festival, the Greater Taichung Bubble Tea Festival will unite eleven tea vendors, allowing the public to enjoy the delicious taste of bubble tea. On the day, 1,000 free cups of bubble tea and 2,000 mooncakes will be given out to attendees, inviting citizens to reunite, enjoy good mooncakes, drink good tea, and celebrate Mid-Autumn.