Fête de la Lune Paris 13e 2025, the program of free events

The Moon Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, is also celebrated in Paris in the 13th arrondissement, the city's favorite Chinatown. From October 4 to 11, 2025, share in Asian culture through a wide range of events, including shows, workshops, screenings and an Asian street food market.

Everyone knows about Chinese New Year, widely celebrated in Paris, but do you know about the Moon Festival? It's the 2nd most important festival for the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans and Japanese. Every year, the 13th arrondissement celebrates the Moon Festival, making it a favorite family event. This year, we look forward to seeing you from October 4 to 11 for a program rich in discoveries.

The Fête de la Lune 2025 offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in a fascinating cultural universe, far from the usual Parisian hustle and bustle. Around the Place d'Italie and the Triangle de Choisy, you'll discover a special atmosphere, tinged with the poetic nostalgia that characterizes this celebration. But why this particular day? Because, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, this is the day when the moon is the roundest and brightest of the whole year.

The poetic origins of this tradition

Also known as the "Mid-Autumn Festival", the festival symbolizes the harvest, family unity and the remembrance of ancestors, through the contemplation of the moon. This thousand-year-old tradition has its roots in a touching legend. Legend has it that Hou Yi, a heroic archer, saved the people from the misery of 10 suns by making the land fertile. To thank him, the celestial empress offered him a remedy to make him immortal. So Hou Yi's wife, Chang'E, took the remedy and flew to the moon.

This story of eternal love still resonates in celebrations today. Since then, Chang'E has lived apart from everyone with a rabbit as her companion, a rabbit who piles the elixir of immortality under a cinnamon tree. Plunged into deep despair, Hou Yi thought he caught a glimpse of his beloved's face in the moonlight, and looked up at the moon every day to express Chang'E's longing.

The celebration takes different forms in different countries. In Vietnam, the festival is often seen as a children's festival. In Korea, it's considered a harvest festival. In Japan, people eat small rice balls called Tsukimi dango. This cultural diversity is perfectly reflected in the Parisian program.

A program rich in artistic discoveries

This year, the Mairie du 13e (13th arrondissement town hall) is offering a particularly meticulous program. The organizers are preparing traditional art exhibitions, concerts mixing East and West, documentary screenings and participatory workshops for youngsters.

The Festival of Chinese Arts and Crafts returns with some forty works by contemporary masters, some of which have been certified as intangible cultural heritage in China. On display for the first time in Paris are iron paintings, silk embroidery, Chinese paper folding and blue porcelain.

Beijing Opera, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage treasure, is a complete art form integrating song, music, dance and martial arts. Interactive demonstrations and make-up workshops allow children to immerse themselves in this spectacular tradition.

The return of the Rice Market, an unmissable gourmet event

The RICE MARKET is back! The 13th arrondissement's first gourmet market of Asian flavors is back for a third edition, co-organized by the 13th arrondissement town hall, Entreprises 13 and Guanghua Cultures et Média. This unique culinary experience lets you sample specialties from all over Asia in a festive, convivial atmosphere.

Rice Market Paris 13e: the street food rendezvous of the Moon Festival
The Rice Market returns to Paris for its third edition this Saturday, October 4, 2025, on boulevard Auguste Blanqui in the 13th arrondissement. Over 50 Asian street food stalls, cultural events, concerts and shows make up this free festival celebrating the Moon Festival. [Read more]

Over 40 stalls showcase authentic Asian flavours, from traditional moon cakes to contemporary street food. The market also welcomes artisans and designers, transforming the event into a true intercultural encounter. This year, the market's usual location on boulevard Auguste Blanqui, between place d'Italie and Corvisart, once again promises to bring together gourmets and the curious.

To remember for partying

The festivities take place mainly around the Mairie du 13e (1 place d'Italie) and in emblematic locations in the arrondissement, such as the Médiathèque Jean-Pierre Melville. Easy metro access via Place d'Italie (lines 5, 6, 7) and Corvisart (line 6) stations.

All events are free and open to the public, subject to availability. Organizers recommend arriving a little early for the most popular shows and workshops. The program is aimed at all ages, with activities specially designed for families and children.

The Fête de la Lune 2025 promises to be a unique opportunity to discover the riches of Asian cultures in the heart of Paris. A perfect blend of tradition and modernity, it offers a cultural escape that's both accessible and authentic, making the 13th arrondissement a veritable bridge between East and West.

This rich and varied program offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Asian cultures through art, gastronomy and traditions.

Find out more about the program