The Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival is coming back this month, and there are some new creatures joining the lineup.
The after-hours event returns Aug. 20 and runs through Oct. 25, giving visitors a chance to walk through the Zoo after dark surrounded by more than 70 handcrafted lantern displays inspired by animals from around the world.
This year’s festival will also include a few new things to check out, including dinosaur lanterns, interactive experiences around Adventure Cove and Conservation Lake, and a floating lantern display on Conservation Lake.
The festival runs Thursdays through Sundays from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Visitors will be able to enjoy live entertainment, character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and complimentary rides on several Zoo attractions.
The Columbus Zoo Train, Grand Carousel, Mission Macaw, Tidal Twist, Flying Clipper and Havoc Harbor will all be available during the event, so you can make a pretty full evening out of it. There will also be special food and drinks available for purchase.
And while the lanterns are obviously the main attraction, you can still see some of the Zoo’s actual residents during the evening. The sea lion and seal tunnel will be open until 10:30 p.m., elephants will have access to an outdoor yard at Asia Quest when weather permits, and several other animal areas will remain open into the evening.
The lanterns are handcrafted by artisans from Zigong, China, using traditional lantern-making techniques that date back to the Han Dynasty. The displays combine those techniques with modern materials and LED technology, along with movement, music and sound.
The Lantern Festival is a separately ticketed event and is not included with regular daytime Zoo admission.
It will be held rain or shine, and tickets can be purchased in advance.
The festival will be closed on Friday, Sept. 18 for Untamed, the Zoo’s conservation gala.
The Zoo is also offering VIP Lantern Festival Tours on select Mondays through Wednesdays from Sept. 7 through Oct. 21. The 90-minute guided tours let guests ride through the festival in a golf cart while learning more about the lanterns and how they’re made.
The Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival runs Aug. 20 through Oct. 25, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays. For more info, head over to columbuszoo.org/lantern-festival.
