Photo Credit: Swissôtel The Stamford
Every autumn, Singapore transforms into a vibrant showcase of lights, colours and cultural delights for one of the city’s most cherished holidays: the Singapore Mooncake Festival 2025. Marking the Mid-Autumn Festival, locals and visitors alike gather to savour unique mooncakes, participate in lively events, and immerse themselves in centuries-old customs.
Chinatown stands out as the beating heart of the Mooncake Festival. From 7 September to 20 October 2025, the district is lit up with enchanting lantern installations and traditional decorations. The highlight is the Chinatown Street Light-Up and Ceremonial Opening on 18 September 2025, signalling the start of weeks filled with music, performances and colourful lanterns.
Strolling through Chinatown’s luminous streets is a must during this period, with families and friends carrying lanterns of all shapes and sizes. The occasion is more than just a community event—it’s an expression of gratitude and togetherness, bringing people closer through warmth and light.
A bustling Festive Street Bazaar sets up along Chinatown, with hundreds of stalls offering sweet and savoury mooncakes, premium teas, fruits, and handpicked souvenirs. This is an ideal place to taste a range of mooncake varieties, from classic baked lotus paste to modern interpretations such as pistachio kunafa, malted chocolate, pandan, and more.
Children and families can participate in the highly anticipated Mass Lantern Walk, an event that transforms Chinatown into a radiant river of moving lights. It’s a magical sight where participants carry lanterns, creating a stunning display across the district and fostering a sense of community.
Singapore’s patisseries and hotels push culinary boundaries each year, unveiling innovative mooncake creations for the festival. The latest trends in Singapore Mooncake Festival 2025 include snow skin mooncakes infused with contemporary ingredients such as ricotta, jackfruit, laksa leaves, and pistachio kunafa. Top hotels and bakeries, including Shang Palace and Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, feature collaborative collections by award-winning chefs.
Indulgence goes hand in hand with artistry, as many mooncakes arrive in elaborate keepsake boxes and tins that double as collectible bags or coasters. These new flavours sit alongside classic favourites filled with lotus seed paste, red bean and salted egg yolk, ensuring traditions are respected while taste buds are surprised.
Tradition remains at the heart of the festival, with families preparing hampers of mooncakes to gift to loved ones, friends and business associates. Major retailers and luxury hotels offer bespoke mooncake gift sets complete with skilful packaging and premium teas, making them ideal for sharing the festive spirit.
Beyond mooncakes, the festival is a time for celebratory feasts. Local restaurants and hotels promote special set menus featuring symbolic foods such as pomelos, taro, roasted duck, and delicacies that highlight unity and good fortune. Afternoon tea packages, mooncake buffets and mooncake pairing sessions with wine or tea are available at many venues across the city.
Cultural performances enliven the festival atmosphere, with traditional music, live dance events and interactive workshops offered throughout Chinatown and beyond. Visitors can take part in lantern-making sessions, storytelling evenings, and mooncake-making workshops, each providing insights into the folklore and history behind the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Singapore Mooncake Festival 2025 is one of the most anticipated cultural events in the city calendar, drawing crowds of all ages and backgrounds. It’s wise to plan your visit, book accommodations in advance, and check schedules for key events to make the most of your festival experience.
The Singapore Mooncake Festival 2025 promises to be a dazzling celebration of tradition, innovation, and community spirit. Whether tasting inventive mooncakes, joining a lantern walk, or soaking up cultural performances, there’s something for families, friends and curious visitors. Mark your diaries, gather your loved ones, and savour the moments as Singapore lights up for one of its brightest festivals.