The Mid-Autumn Festival comes to Denver’s Far East Center with twice as many vendors and performance

The first ever Little Saigon Night Market took place this past June. The event focused on celebrating the local multicultural flair of South Federal Blvd. and brought hundreds of Denver residents out into the streets of Asia Center despite the rain.

WalkDenver repurposed the Asia Center parking lot at South Federal Blvd. and Mississippi Ave., transforming it into a public plaza. By setting up an artistic pedestrian walkway, trees and plants, lighting and public seating, WalkDenver demonstrated the types of improvements community members have shared they would like to see on Federal Blvd. to make it a safer, more inviting place to walk.

WalkDenver also hired local resident and artist Ratha Sok to paint a mural on the sidewalk to welcome people to the corridor.

An overwhelming 97% of attendees surveyed at the first event asked for more community events like the night market. Business owners on the stretch also reached out to WalkDenver, who put on the event, for an encore.

In response to the positive feedback, WalkDenver is organizing a Mid-Autumn Festival co-hosted by The Far East Center at Federal Blvd. and Alameda Ave. on Friday, September 13.

The event will feature a mural by artist Chad Bolsinger. The Denver based artist is a painter, muralists, street artist and illustrator who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Fort Lewis College. His recognizable style often brings a realistic approach to surrealistic settings. His characters are highly detailed, and the shading makes them look life-like until he strikes them with neon and dreamy colors bringing his out worldly imagination to reality. Recently, he took part in the Visionary Art Show with world renown artist Alfredo Zageceta. Bolsinger was chosen to be a headliner at Crush Walls—look for his mural in September.

The vendor list is growing with food from around the world. Vietnamese, Thai and Indian food will be showcased. Local favorites like bubble tea, mochi and che to satisfy your sweet tooth. Besides the ever popular pho eating contest, one pound moon cakes will be offered to contestants willing to take the challenge.

The free family event will have games for kids as well as live music! Kids ages 5-13 can enter in the lantern contest by bringing a homemade lantern to the festival. Winners will receive a big prize. The event will feature stage performances by Vietnamese singers, hip hop battle, kpop dancers, fan dance and a kids fashion show with cultural attire.

Mid-Autumn Festival will take place at the Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd on Friday, September 13 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with limited parking. Follow the Facebook event for up-to-date announcements and details.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is part of the “Friends of Little Saigon” initiative, led by WalkDenver, the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative, and the Vietnamese American community of Colorado, which is focused on community beautification and stewardship of the pedestrian environment along Federal Blvd. between Alameda and Mississippi in Southwest Denver.