On Oct. 4, the Knoll hosted its third annual Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival, a celebration of Asian culture that attracted students and their families to the sunlit outdoor space. More than a dozen student organizations set up tables for the event, offering cultural activities, handmade crafts, food and performances.
Traditionally a time for family reunions, the Mid-Autumn Festival aligned perfectly with Fall Family Weekend. For international students whose families could not travel to Vermont, the event offered a sense of home and belonging within the Middlebury community.
“Chinese students often don’t have family able to visit, so it represents being part of a larger family,” Chinese Society Treasurer Qianhao Yang ’28 said.
“[The] Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture,” Chinese Department Teaching Assistant Leslie Liu said in an interview with The Campus. “The festival’s focus on harvest and family reunion makes it an ideal theme for a heartwarming family weekend in this golden season, where loved ones can gather and share the joy of this traditional celebration.”
For cultural clubs, the festival was a forum to celebrate and share their traditions. The Chinese Department and Chinese Society organized a series of activities, ranging from riddles and pitch-pot games to lantern making and distributing mooncakes from across China.
“Thanks to the joint effort of volunteers from the Chinese Society and Chinese Department, remarkable planning by the board members, and a generous budget provided by the department, we were able to offer a diverse selection of traditional activities for our guests to have an immersive experience of Mid-Autumn festival celebration in Chinese culture,” Liu added.
The Korean-American Student Association (KASA) offered cups of kimchi they had prepared together a week prior, while the Japanese Club (J Club) offered calligraphy, origami lessons and rice cakes attendees could decorate with edible markers.
“It was great, sharing a part of our culture,” KASA President Cody Lee ’27 said.
Beyond the culinary delicacies, music abounded, with a performance by “The Bobolinks” a capella group and a traditional Korean drumming circle. Shelby Kimmel, associate professor of computer science and instructor of the first-year seminar “Transforming Traditions,” directed the drumming, teaching attendees how to use the ornate instruments.
“I loved hearing the music echoing through the hills,” Kimmel said. “It was a good welcome.”
At a predominantly white institution, events like the Mid-Autumn Festival help Asian students feel included, international or not.
“It’s great to see all these families making Asian students feel more welcome,” Samantha Benjamin ’28, co-president of the Radical Asians Society (RAISINS), said.
RAISINS’ table emphasized both social justice and culture, offering mango sago to attendees if they correctly answered social justice trivia. Their table also featured QR codes linking to “Know Your Rights With ICE” webpages.
Other advocacy-oriented organizations were also present, including the Migrant Justice Club and Addison County BIPOC, an organization which since 2020 has fostered a safe space for both community members and students.
Knoll intern Changchang Ma '26 was the mastermind behind the event and began preparing for it in July. She coordinated with the facilities team to ensure the lawn would be mowed on time, with Middlebury dining to set up the tables, and of course with the college’s plethora of student clubs. Knoll interns welcomed attendees and a shuttle ran between campus and the Knoll to transport students and their families.
Despite the heat, the event was a success, with over 700 attendees and an assortment of delicious food, entertainment and activities.
“I wanted to bring people together,” Ma said.
Editor’s Note: News Editor Hugo Zhang ’28 contributed reporting to this article.
