Our project, Under the Same Moon: Music, Wishes, and Belonging, brought neighbours together for a warm and lively Mid-Autumn Festival gathering. Our goal was to create a welcoming space where people of different ages and backgrounds could connect through culture, creativity, food, and conversation. The original plan focused on lantern-making, Mid-Autumn activities, and opportunities for neighbours to interact rather than simply stay within the groups they already knew.
We planned the event with help from friends, neighbours, family members, and volunteers. Before the event, we prepared lantern-making materials, decorations, games, refreshments, and a festive activity area. Volunteers also helped decorate the room with greenery and colourful lanterns, creating an inviting Mid-Autumn atmosphere.
One of the highlights was the lantern-making activity. Children, teenagers, and adults all participated, and we were happy to see that it worked across generations. Some participants came in traditional Chinese-inspired clothing, which added to the festive atmosphere and naturally led to conversations about Mid-Autumn traditions. Younger children were especially excited to carry and show their finished lanterns, while adults enjoyed the creative process as well.
We also included an interactive Mid-Autumn-themed guessing game with bilingual instructions. One challenge we had anticipated was making cultural activities accessible to people with different language abilities and different levels of familiarity with Chinese traditions. Using simple rules, visual activities, bilingual explanations, and volunteers who could help participants made the activities much easier for everyone to join. This reflected our original intention to keep the event inclusive and educational for people from different cultural backgrounds.
Food also became an important part of the gathering. A large table of refreshments and shared dishes gave people another reason to sit together, stay longer, and talk informally. These casual conversations were just as meaningful as the organized activities.
What we learned is that community connection does not always require a complicated program. Simple shared experiences—making something together, solving a game, sharing food, helping a child with a lantern, or starting a conversation with someone new—can create a genuine sense of belonging. The event reminded us that cultural traditions can be a bridge rather than a boundary. Under the same moon, neighbours who may not otherwise have met were able to spend time together, learn from one another, and create new memories.
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