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

“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.

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.

Philadelphia’s Chinatown celebrated its Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday and hundreds flocked to 10th Street to celebrate the neighborhood and its culture in the wake of Mayor Parker’s decision to back an arena in the area.

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.

Mayor Cherelle Parker threw her support behind the 76ers' proposed arena in Center City on Wednesday. She said legislation would be made public soon and City Council will then have an opportunity to review the proposal.