The leaves might not have changed colors yet, but the sky near the Chinatown Gateway tells a different story.
Leaf peeping season is just around the corner, and every part of Boston is preparing in a different way. Just off the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a crowd gathered to watch and explore the festivities of the mid-autumn lantern festival Sept. 13. Vendors lined up along Beach and Hudson streets while pedestrians strolled toward the Chinatown Gateway.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, lanterns zigzagged and children ran around Mary Soo Hoo Park as people wandered around looking for seats and peeking through the crowds. The park has been a staple of Boston’s Chinatown for some time now;the iconic Gateway Arch was built in 1982 and later rededicated in honor of Mary Soo Hoo shortly after her passing in 2005.
Soo Hoo was a major player within Chinatown’s community and business development. According to Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, she was a founding member of the Asian American Civic Association, a co-moderator of the Chinatown neighborhood council and an important activist in the movement to eliminate the “combat zone” — or red-light district — near Chinatown.
The outcome of her efforts couldn’t be more clear than on days like the lantern festival, which has been ongoing since 2013 and is still run by the local non-profit Chinatown Main Street, or CMS. The mid-autumn festival is a Chinese holiday celebrating the full moon and involves lighting lanterns and gathering with family. Through work by Soo Hoo and CMS, Chinatown thrives and welcomes events like this festival.
A crowd gathered around the main event — a large, blocked-off square in the middle of the park. With 40 performers on the docket, CMS Treasurer Gilbert Ho, the event’s emcee, introduced talent after talent with a beaming smile on his face and an eye on the time. Just behind the crowds, groups were getting dressed, warming up and awaiting their queues. Performers ranged from local volunteer groups to dance teams from all over Massachusetts.
The sounds of the crowd singing, dancing and cheering quieted closer to the vendors, who enticed people with house plants, teas and other collectables. While there were not any food tents set up, people freely came in and out of the multitude of local restaurants. People cupped dumplings, sandwiches and candies from nearby businesses as they explored the park.
The festival ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with every generation in attendance. From the children excitedly eating treats in one hand and carrying balloons in the other to the elderly enjoying the laughter — the community bond was strong. The feeling in the air was of ease, welcome and celebration.
