Candle painting, Chinese calligraphy and author story times are coming to San Mateo County library branches ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday, Sept. 25.

San Mateo County Libraries announced the programming series in a blog post on Sept. 3. The lineup spans multiple branches and includes hands-on workshops, children's crafts and visits from Bay Area author Jasmine Fang.

Fang, a Taiwanese American writer based in the Bay Area, will read from her new picture book Beneath the Same Round Moon: A Mooncake Festival Story at several locations. The book, published by Beaming Books in fall 2026, is illustrated by Rồng Phạm and Vinh Nguyễn. Fang holds a BA from UC Irvine and an MBA from Georgetown University and spent a decade working in international affairs and higher education before turning to children's books.

Craft workshops cover a range of traditions. A candle painting session invites participants to paint full moons, lotus flowers, rabbits and lanterns. A Chinese calligraphy workshop teaches brush techniques and traditional phrases tied to the moon and reunion, with each participant creating a fan-shaped paper lantern.

Artist Tiffany Lau of Made by Tiffany will teach a crepe paper lotus flower workshop. Tiffany Tzeng of Stitches By Tiff will lead a beginner-friendly hand embroidery class.

For kids, Cupertino-based nonprofit Chopstickstory is partnering with the library system to offer traditional Korean crafts celebrating Chuseok, the Korean harvest holiday observed on the same lunar date as Mid-Autumn. Activities include chopstick making, chopstick decorating, lotus lantern making and a dancheong suncatcher workshop. Chuseok traditions include honoring ancestors and sharing treats such as songpyeon rice cakes and yakgwa pastries.

Mid-Autumn lands on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar each year. The holiday is celebrated across East and Southeast Asian cultures: as Chuseok in Korea, Otsukimi in Japan and Tết Trung Thu in Vietnam.

The library system, which marked its 114th birthday on Sept. 5, operates 13 branches and a Bookmobile across San Mateo County. Specific event dates, times and locations were not listed in the announcement. Residents can find the full schedule on the San Mateo County Libraries website or by calling (833) 937-7625.