Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival Celebration of Chinese Culture Returns to Bridgewater Commons October 4-12

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (September 23, 2025) — Visitors to Bridgewater Commons soon will have a new perspective on the moon, as the Center for Cultural & Creative Exchange (CCCE) presents the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese folk celebration of light, for the third straight year, at the Central New Jersey mall’s Center Court and beyond from October 4 through 12.

As in years past, Bridgewater Commons will also feature a display of 15 illuminated handmade Chinese lanterns crafted by local volunteers from The Polaris Youth Club in various forms, from animals to Labubus up to 10 feet high throughout the first two levels of the center, illuminating walkways and providing a guide to Chinese culture. Also planned are lantern-making workshops at the Community Hub and a special performance in Center Court.

“This is always a highlight of our annual calendar, and our guests never fail to be amazed, entertained and educated,” said Tom Kovacic, Marketing and Business Development Director at Bridgewater Commons. “Our Asian community is one of Central New Jersey’s most vibrant, and we’re delighted to provide a forum that honors their culture. The same will be true when we host a Diwali festival honoring our South Asian community later in the month.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, will fall on October 6, 2025, and is an occasion for families to reunite and have a good time together. In Hong Kong, a cherished tradition entails sharing mooncakes with loved ones, going moon gazing, and enjoying a range of festive events, from lantern carnivals.

On Saturday, October 4, at 3 p.m., the CCCE will launch the Mid-Autumn Festival with a free, traditional live performance of music and dance in Center Court. The performance will feature Chinese Yoyo, lion dances, a traditional Chinese magic act, and more.

From 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October 4, 5, 11, and 12, Bridgewater Commons’ Events Space will be home to a CCCE-hosted fun lantern-making workshop. Throughout the ages, the Chinese have used lanterns not only as sources of light or simple paper decoration, but they also symbolize vitality, social status, and good luck. Lantern kits will cost $5, with proceeds to benefit the CCCE.

Established in 2019, CCCE is a non-profit organization founded in New Jersey and its mission of CCCE is twofold: to help preserve Chinese culture and heritage and to promote unity, harmony, and respect for all demographic groups within the community. Through sharing East Asian culture and art, CCCE provides several cultural events annually including The Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar Chinese New Year and many more.

“Bridgewater Commons has been an exceptional partner for this festival as well as our celebration for Lunar New Year,” said Li Ching Jung, Founder of the CCCE. “We’re excited to work with them once again.”

Located along Interstate 287 at the intersections of Route 22 and Route 202/206, Bridgewater Commons opened in February 1988 and has become Somerset County’s largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination.

The complex also includes The Village at Bridgewater Commons, a unique, open-air shopping district with more than 10 retailers and food and beverage locations, including LOFT, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Shake Shack, and Starbucks.

About Bridgewater Commons
Bridgewater Commons is one of Northern New Jersey’s premier shopping destinations, located in a vibrant suburb in proximity to New York City. The 1.2 million-square-foot shopping center features a vibrant mix of retailers and restaurants with wide consumer appeal. More than 150 brands call Bridgewater Commons home, from well-known national retailers and restaurants such as Apple, lululemon athletica, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Fogo de Chão, Seasons 52, and The Cheesecake Factory, to popular local small shops like Athletifreak, Millburn Del,i and DIG. In 2023, Bridgewater Commons celebrated its 35th anniversary and was acquired by Pacific Retail Capital Partners, one of the premier owners of retail real estate in the country. For more information on the property, please visit bridgewatercommons.com or follow on social media: Facebook @BridgewaterCommons and Instagram: shopbridgewatercommons.

About Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) is one of the nation’s premier retail operating groups of large open- air and enclosed shopping centers, with more than $3.0 billion in assets under management across the United States. Based in Southern California, the company’s portfolio totals 24 properties encompassing over 20 million square feet. With a highly experienced team that has a proven track record of generating value its stakeholders, PRCP is dedicated to evolving real estate for the next generation by working with the communities it serves to design master plans that transform its assets into high-performing mixed-use destinations. The vertically-integrated company provides end-to-end sourcing, assessment, underwriting, valuing, developing, marketing, design and asset management services. To learn more visit pacificretail.com or follow on social media at: Facebook: @PacificRetailCapitalPartners and Instagram: @PacificRetail.

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