San Francisco festivals celebrate various cultures citywide this weekend

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco is hosting a variety of cultural celebrations this weekend, including the Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown, a lowrider parade in the Mission District and Oktoberfest in the city's first entertainment zone.

The events are expected to draw visitors from across the Bay Area while highlighting the city's diverse communities and traditions.

On Front Street, Oktoberfest festivities kicked off Friday night with live music, dancing and traditional Bavarian attire.

In the Mission District, large crowds are expected Saturday for the Lowrider Parade, where lowrider vehicles from around the world will cruise along Mission Street.

Organizers describe the event as a celebration of Chicano and Latino culture and heritage.

MORE: For the South Bay lowrider community, cruising is not just for holidays - it's a lifestyle

Meanwhile, Chinatown is marking the 35th anniversary of the Autumn Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At i-Café on Waverly Place, staff members spent the week preparing hundreds of mooncakes for customers celebrating the holiday.

Mooncakes are a traditional part of the festival, often shared with family and friends.

"The moon cake symbolize roundness, harmony and peace," said Autumn Moon Festival Director Eva Lee.

MORE: Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebrated in Bay Area, around the world: A look at cultural importance

Former San Francisco resident Dennis Tom said he enjoys the seasonal treats. "They're nice and sweet," Tom said.

The Autumn Moon Festival will run Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Starting from Grant and ca all the way to Broadway, that famous iconic street will turn into an Asian theme park to celebrate the festival," Lee said.

Festival organizers say attendees can expect cultural performances, food vendors and family activities throughout the weekend.

"We're going to have cultural demonstrations, tons of vendors, live bands, KPop dance contests, raffle drawings, and on Sunday we'll have similar events in a addition to a dumpling contest. And the finale of the dragon a 430 p.m.," Lee said.

MORE: Thousands attend SF's Oktoberfest on Front, 1st entertainment zone in CA

Community leaders say the festival also provides an important boost for Chinatown businesses as the neighborhood navigates several major construction projects.

"The future for Chinatown is bright. There's a lot of investment in infrastructure but the near-term pain I think is extremely challenging," said Malcolm Yeung of the Chinatown Community Development Center.

"We have the Portsmouth square construction. We have construction at the Chinatown health clinic. That sort of created a closure in the Broadway tunnel closure," Yeung said. "For a lot of the merchants those in and around these construction zones, it hits them hard."

"We need to work together with the city to mitigate some of the impacts," he added.

Organizers and community leaders hope visitors will continue supporting Chinatown businesses beyond the festival weekend.

The celebrations across San Francisco are expected to showcase the city's cultural diversity while bringing residents and visitors together through food, music, art and community traditions.