“It’s a time for Chinatown as a community to really come out, see each other, celebrate this wonderful, precious community,” said Cinthya Hioe, communications manager at Asian Americans United, the non-profit that organized the event for the 29th year. Hioe said about 300 volunteers helped coordinate the event.

Festival in Chinatown took on a special significance this year as the community fights the development of a controversial arena.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker released a video on social media, endorsing the Sixers’ $1.55 billion proposal to build a new arena in Center City, citing it as the best financial deal for the city.

At a festival to celebrate the light of a full moon, the joy felt dimmed as residents of Chinatown once again turned to expressing outrage over the proposed arena and the mayor's endorsement of it.