Moon Lantern Festival cancelled after heavy rains LUMINOUS: Mohd Norhafizul and Nurhayati Zulkifli rise a trishaw in traditional Malaysian costume in lead-up to the Moon Lantern Festival. Picture: Dean Martin Source: News Limited Bad weather has forced the last minute cancellation of tonight's Moon Lantern Festival, after heavy rains made the Elder Park event a wash-out. Crowds had begun assembling on the banks of the Torrens from 3pm ahead of the 7pm lantern walk, but organisers pulled the pin on the event just after 5pm due to persistent heavy rains. More than 22,000 people were expected to turn out to the free family event, the most popular date on the annual OzAsia Festival calendar. Celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the Moon Lantern Festival is based on a centuries-old Chinese tradition of celebrating family and culture under the light of the full moon with a procession of colourful paper lanterns. Tonight's event was to feature music and dance performances by Chinese, Timorese, Vietnamese, Thai and Filipino cultural groups, martial arts demonstrations and art workshops, as well as more than 30 food stalls and a cooking demonstration by TV chef Poh Ling Yeow. ILLUMINATING: Omar Barakbah, 20, and Ezzah Jamil, 22, wear Malaysian-inspired costumes that will feature in this year's Moon Lantern parade at the OzAsia festival.