The official Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 25th September, but why wait till then to get into the festive spirit? VivoCity is bringing the celebrations early in light of the mall’s 20th anniversary, with the Sanrio Characters Moonlit Garden experience happening from now till 27th September 2026. Honestly, we’re not complaining, because we’ll take any excuse to celebrate with Hello Kitty and friends.
But since VivoCity is huge and there’s plenty to see and do, we checked out the event to bring you the lowdown on the cutest photo spots, fun activities, and Sanrio merch worth checking out.
The main experience takes place at the mall’s Sky Park on Level 3, transforming the open-air space into a whimsical world filled with larger-than-life Sanrio Characters from 10am to 10pm each day.
Pro tip: The lights come on from 6pm to 10pm, so visit in the evening like we did to catch the photo spots in both bright daylight and golden-hour lighting for 2 different vibes.
We were greeted by the Moonlit Garden Gateway at the entrance, where 7 Sanrio Characters are gathered, with some of them cutely perched atop “mooncakes”. It’s the 1st photo stop you’ll come across, so snap a few pics here before heading off to explore the rest of the installations.
Fun fact: Moon gates are traditionally found in Chinese gardens and serve as pedestrian passageways, with their circular shape symbolising unity and harmony. Sounds like the perfect spot to bring the whole family along for a festive photo.
Next up on the right is the Kuromi Carnival Kingdom, which is hard to miss thanks to its 5m-tall Kuromi inflatable perched atop carnival containers. This is one zone you’ll want to set aside some extra time for, especially if you’re coming with the kiddos, or simply consider yourself a kid at heart.
There are 6 Sanrio-themed carnival games ($10/game) to try your hand at, such as a uniquely Singaporean one where you’ll have to toss tissue packets onto miniature tables and chairs to chope them.
Other games include classic carnival favourites like shooting hoops and a fishing game where you’ll have to see which fish has the longest tail.
Win, and you’ll get to walk away with adorable prizes, including Sanrio plushies!
For something a little more chill, hop aboard the Mini Express Train ($10/ride) for a tour around Kuromi’s kingdom. Each ticket purchase also comes with a set of Sanrio Characters stickers for a little keepsake to take home.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Head to the Sanrio-themed Photo Booth ($8/session), where you’ll get to choose a filter, strike 4 poses, and pick from a wide selection of photo strip designs featuring your favourite characters.
Or try your luck at the Sanrio-themed capsule machines ($8-$14/game). The machines are filled with Sanrio goodies, including Little Twin Stars keychains. While the celestial duo aren’t officially part of the Sanrio Characters Moonlit Garden line-up, they’re still a cute find to bring home.
You can find the photobooth and gachapon machines near Food Republic on Level 3, just a stone’s throw away from the Sky Park.
Carnival operating hours
Date: Now till 27th Sep 2026
Time: 5pm-10pm, Daily
Location: Sky Park, Level 3
After hustling it out at the carnival, head over to the Cinnamoroll Secret Garden Grove for a more laid-back experience. Here, you’ll find a 5m-tall Cinnamoroll inflatable surrounded by a path lined with hanging lanterns and twinkling fairy lights.
There are also floral arches along the path, making this easily one of the most IG-worthy spots of the entire experience. Not that we’re saying that just because we’re Cinnamoroll fans…
BTW, as you stroll through the garden, keep a lookout for the specially marked lanterns to take part in the Lantern Riddle Challenge. The riddles are multiple-choice questions inspired by VivoCity’s heritage and your knowledge of the Sanrio Characters.
Be among the first 50 participants each hour to complete the challenge, and you’ll receive an exclusive Sanrio sticker set, while stocks last.
Lantern Riddle Challenge
Date: Now till 27th Sep 2026
Redemption time: 5pm-9pm, Daily
Redemption venue: Lobby L, Level 3
Continue your journey, and you’ll come across the Hello Kitty Starlit Lantern Walk, where the link bridge has been decked out with glowing lanterns and fairy lights for a more magical vibe.
At either end of the walkway, you’ll find Hello Kitty and My Melody inflatables standing tall and ready to photobomb your stroll. As 2 of the most recognisable Sanrio Characters, they definitely make for some cute photo ops.
This is a romantic spot to slow things down and soak in the atmosphere, especially if you’re visiting with your date.
The Hangyodon Moonlit Water Garden lies just beyond the lantern walk, and floating above the water is, of course, a 5m-tall Hangyodon inflatable.
Surrounded by water lilies and lights, this is another breathtaking photo spot, pretty much on par with the Cinnamoroll garden in our opinion.
There’s even a boat setup positioned in front, so you can hop in and pose as though you’re floating on the water, with Hangyodon perfectly framed behind you.
The final installation is the Pompompurin Mooncake Tea Party, inspired by the tradition of enjoying mooncakes and tea with loved ones.
The star of the show here is a 7m-tall Pompompurin inflatable – the tallest one of the lot – sitting on top of a giant mooncake. This is not just an impressive photo spot; it also captures what the Mid-Autumn Festival is all about: coming together, sharing good food, and spending time with the people you love.
There are also 2 empty teacups that you can actually step into and pose in, with the giant characters in the background for some fun photos.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit the new Sanrio store in Chinatown, take this opportunity to drop by the Sanrio Retail Pop-Up at VivoCity. We spotted a mix of Singapore-exclusive and Mid-Autumn-themed items, so diehard Sanrio fans will definitely want to set aside some time to browse the shelves.
Honourable mention goes to the Easy-Buy Items, which include affordable knick-knacks like postcards and stickers that won’t hurt your wallet too much. For instance, you can pick up a notebook, magnet, and coaster for 3 for $12.
Need more stationery? A sticky note and notepad go for 2 for $10.
We also noticed that T-shirts seemed to be a popular pick, with designs available in both adult and kids’ sizes. Prices start from $25 each when you get 6 pieces, $29 each for 3 pieces, or $35 for 1 piece.
There are a few cop-worthy designs with a Singapore twist, featuring familiar sights like the nostalgic dragon playground and an HDB block, with Sanrio Characters thrown into the mix.
Get the little ones ready for Mid-Autumn Festival with the kid-friendly Musical Lanterns ($12.90). They can choose their favourite character and bring their lantern along for a festive stroll, while the adults sit back and munch on mooncakes. Everyone wins.
Shop back-to-school supplies too, such as these cute Sanrio backpacks ($49.90), ‘cause it’s never too early to add a little Sanrio flair to the school run.
And if you pack your own lunch for work, you can also pick up a lunch bag (from $20), available in a variety of colours and designs.
Don’t forget to bring home some plushies (from $26.90) – because, really, there’s no such thing as too many Sanrio plushies.
But the most exciting part of the pop-up has got to be the customisation bar, where you can pick a small or large name plate (from $10) and personalise it with cute Sanrio-themed charms.
We saw plenty of people crowding around this station, so be prepared to wait a little, especially during peak hours. Alternatively, swing by during off-peak periods if you want to skip the crowds and take your time customising your name plate.
Sanrio Retail Pop-Up
Date: Now till 27th Sep 2026
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Location: East Court, Level 1 (Near CHAGEE)
Any Sanrio fan’s dream is probably getting to meet their favourite character IRL – mascot version and all – and snapping loads of photos together. Well, good news: you actually can at VivoCity.
Beloved Sanrio Characters will be making appearances on selected weekends, where you’ll get to meet them and take photos if you spend a minimum of $80 in a single receipt to redeem a Meet & Greet Pass.
Just take note that passes are limited to the first 30 qualifying redemptions per session, with 1 redemption per member. You’ll also need to redeem your pass in person at least 30 minutes before each session, so don’t leave it till the last minute.
Here’s a quick look at the meet-and-greet schedule:
| Location | Date | Time | Sanrio Character |
| North-West Boulevard, Level 1 (Near Chanel) | 29th & 30th Aug 2026 | 3pm | Cinnamoroll |
| 5pm | Hello Kitty | ||
| 7pm | Kuromi | ||
| 5th & 6th Sep 2026 | 3pm | Kuromi | |
| 5pm | Cinnamoroll | ||
| 7pm | Hello Kitty | ||
| 19th Sep 2026 | 5pm & 7pm | Pompompurin |
You’ll be glad to know that the photo ops at the Sky Park aren’t the only ones keeping you busy. The next time you’re at VivoCity for a shopping spree, keep your eyes peeled for the 2m-tall Sanrio Characters inflatables popping up at different locations around the mall.
There are 7 in total, so it’s totally possible to turn it into a treasure hunt and try to spot all of them.
Here’s where you can find them:
| Character | Location |
| Hangyodon | North-West Boulevard, Level 1 (Near Rituals) |
| Kuromi | West Boulevard, Level 1 (Near MLB) |
| Pochacco | |
| Cinnamoroll | South Avenue, Level 1 (Near Calvin Klein) |
| My Melody | |
| Pompompurin | South-West Link, Level 2 (Near DJI) |
| Hello Kitty | Mall Drop-off Point (Near AIBI) |
Sanrio is one of those brands that never really goes out of style, with its cute characters continuing to capture the hearts of both kids and adults alike. This Mid-Autumn Festival, bring your family and friends along to VivoCity for a day of IG-worthy photo ops and fun games.
More events in Singapore:
Photography by Huiwen Chan.
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