When it comes to family nights out, the events in Canberra worth packing a picnic for are the lantern evenings at Beijing Garden on Lake Burley Griffin. The Australia China Friendship Society ACT Branch still runs the annual Chinese Lantern Festival there, and this spring school holidays there is another free lantern night on the same lawns.
This Saturday — 26 September 2026 — Lake Moon Festival fills Beijing Garden from 2pm to 10pm with water lanterns, a fish lantern parade, food, games and Hanfu characters. Entry is free. Mid-Autumn Festival itself falls on Tuesday 6 October 2026, so this is the family-friendly weekend to go if you want lanterns during the ACT spring break.
This Saturday: Lake Moon Festival 2026
Asia Australia Youth Association is bringing Lake Moon Festival back to Beijing Garden, Flynn Drive, Yarralumla on Saturday 26 September 2026, 2pm–10pm. It is a free public Mid-Autumn celebration on the lake, not a ticketed concert.
The programme lists a water lantern release after sunset, a fish lantern parade, cultural performances, a food market, traditional games and workshops, and a lakeside jazz set in the evening. Kids can join lantern riddles and quests around the garden. Wear something warm; Canberra nights drop quickly in late September.
Details and updates: Lake Moon Festival 2026 on Eventbrite.
Chinese Lantern Festival 2026 at Beijing Garden
The ACFS ACT Branch held the 2026 Chinese Lantern Festival on Saturday 28 February 2026, 6pm–8.30pm, at Canberra Beijing Garden (Lennox Gardens / Flynn Drive, Yarralumla, behind the Hyatt). It marked the Year of the Horse. Traditional Yuanxiao — the 15th day of the first lunar month — fell on Tuesday 3 March 2026. The society’s evening is the local community close to those celebrations.
As in other years, entry was free. Families were asked to bring a picnic (only bottled water for sale), bring a lantern or buy one on the night, and stay for Chinese classical music, dance, martial arts, dragon and lion dances, then a lantern parade along the lake edge and through the garden. Check acfs.org.au on the day if the weather looks rough — the society posts cancellations there.
🏮 Fun fact: The Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao) is the last night of Chinese New Year. It always falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month — between early February and early March. In 2026 that was 3 March. In 2027 it is Saturday 20 February (Year of the Goat).
What previous years looked like
The 2025 festival was Saturday 15 February at the same garden, with the Chinese Embassy and ACFS. Organisers put attendance in the hundreds — about 450 in 2024, closer to 1,000 in 2025 when the ambassador spoke. It is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne lantern spectaculars, and that is the point: you can actually walk the parade with kids without a stadium crush.
🏮 Practical bits: Beijing Garden is in Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla, behind the Hyatt. There is a car park. Bring a picnic blanket, a lantern if you have one, and a jumper. The ACFS night is usually 6pm–8.30pm; Lake Moon 2026 runs 2pm–10pm.
When is the next Chinese Lantern Festival?
ACFS has not yet posted 2027 dates. Chinese New Year 2027 is the Year of the Goat, starting 6 February 2027. The Lantern Festival date is Saturday 20 February 2027. The Canberra evening is usually the nearest Saturday at Beijing Garden. Watch acfs.org.au events from January 2027, or email [email protected] / call Carol on (02) 6247 8231.
Until then, Lake Moon Festival on 26 September 2026 is the lantern night still ahead of you this school holidays.
More family things to do in Canberra
Looking for more during the ACT school holidays? Start with what's on in Canberra and things to do in Canberra with kids. Floriade is still on in Commonwealth Park through 11 October 2026.
Sources
ACFS Lantern Festival (28 Feb 2026) · Events Canberra listing · Lake Moon Festival 2026 · HerCanberra Lunar New Year 2026.
