Mahjong, Porsche, jade bracelets, lanterns, live performances, incredible food and a whole lot of Chinese culture — all under one roof.
When I heard that Fête Chinoise was bringing its 2026 Love at Mid-Autumn celebration to Porsche Centre Markham, I immediately knew I wanted to go.
This year’s theme was “A Mid-Autumn Night’s Dream: In the Mood for Mahjong,” and it turned out to be one of those events where every time I turned around, there was another beautiful detail to discover.
And for me, it really was the best of both worlds.
I love cars and Porsche, but I also love Chinese culture, food, design and the little nostalgic details that remind me of growing up in a Chinese Canadian family. Putting those things together made this event feel especially personal.
Mahjong meets Porsche
The first thing that struck me was how beautifully the event brought these two worlds together.
Porsche Centre Markham was transformed for the evening with Mid-Autumn-inspired decor, lanterns, Mahjong tables and beautiful photo moments, while Porsche vehicles were incorporated throughout the experience.
And then there were people actually playing Mahjong.
There was something so lovely about seeing the tables filled with people laughing, talking and concentrating over their tiles — exactly the kind of intergenerational social connection that makes Mahjong so much more than just a game.
All the little cultural details
This is probably what I loved most about the event.
There were creative stations where guests could make their own buttons and magnets, paint a Mahjong tile and colour a Porsche-themed lantern.
One of my favourite activations was with TD, where you could make your own jade bracelet with X&O Beads Shop. It was such a simple activity, but it felt so connected to the cultural experience.
There were also traditional lantern elements, face painting, art and colouring displays and plenty of opportunities to stop and appreciate the craftsmanship and design.
Fête Chinoise describes the celebration as a way of bringing culture, community and tradition together across generations — and I really felt that while I was there.
Food, food and more food
Of course, no Chinese Canadian community event is complete without food.
There were a number of food and beverage partners throughout the event, including Pears and SuSu Thai Restaurant, and I especially loved the skewers from SuSu Thai.
And then there was Saint Germain Bakery with the cutest heart-shaped mooncake.
Even the food presentation felt like part of the overall experience.
The performances
There were also live cultural performances throughout the evening, including young performers singing and playing instruments.
I particularly loved seeing younger generations participating.
There’s something special about watching kids and young people perform at an event celebrating culture — not just as an audience, but as active participants in keeping those traditions and creative expressions alive.
A community celebration
There were so many different generations represented throughout the event.
People were dressed in beautiful cheongsams, families were exploring the different stations, friends were playing Mahjong and people were simply enjoying being together.
That’s what stayed with me most.
It wasn’t just a pretty event.
It felt like a community gathering.
And Fête Chinoise has intentionally built the Love at Mid-Autumn campaign around that idea. The 2026 campaign uses Mahjong as a way to explore Chinese heritage, craftsmanship, family connection and the social traditions surrounding the game. Proceeds from the broader campaign support organizations including the Chinese Canadian Museum and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
And then there was the Porsche
I have to admit, looking at my Porsche in the middle of all of this made the evening even more fun.
There was something pretty perfect about the combination of a very modern luxury automotive space with traditional Chinese cultural elements. Not to mention, Holt Renfew was there sharing details about their personal shopping services!
It felt distinctly Toronto – and distinctly Chinese Canadian.
And I loved that.
It made me want to get more involved
I’ve been thinking lately about how much I want to do more things that connect me with people and community.
Not necessarily by taking on another giant commitment or volunteering for every single thing that comes my way — I know myself well enough to know that I could very quickly turn “getting involved” into a part-time job! 😂
But I do want to keep showing up.
Events like this remind me that community doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s simply going somewhere, trying something new, meeting people, celebrating a shared culture and being curious.
And maybe that’s something I’m learning too.
At this stage of life, I’m increasingly interested in finding communities that make me curious, bring people together and give me another reason to get out of the house and experience something new.
I’ll just have to remember that getting involved doesn’t mean I have to do everything.
For now, I’m happy just showing up.
And maybe learning Mahjong while I’m at it. 🀄️
Love at Mid-Autumn: A Mid-Autumn Night’s Dream — In the Mood for Mahjong
📍 Porsche Centre Markham
📅 September 26, 2026
Thank you to Fête Chinoise and Porsche Centre Markham for putting together such a beautiful celebration of culture, community and connection.
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