Lantern festival logo

Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival

Join us for a new and spectacular family-friendly event in Central Ohio: the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival! This 8-week event is a dazzling spectacle featuring over 70 sets of  Asian lanterns highlighting beautiful wildlife scenes from around the world. Multicolored LED animal lanterns will illuminate paths throughout various areas of the Zoo, creating an unforgettable experience.

July 31 - October 5, 2025  |  Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

 

Lanterns
lantern pic
jellyfish lanterns
wonton picture
koala lantern
large lantern canopy
meerkat lantern
puma lantern
meatball picture
zebra lantern
child on carousel with father figure

 

What's Included

  • Custom jaw-dropping performances curated just for the event
  • Complimentary parking
  • Adventure Cove and Zoo rides like Tidal Twist, Havoc Harbor, and our historic carousel
  • Animal areas like Stingray Bay, Manatee Coast, the reptile building, and many more
  • Interactive photo opportunities throughout the Zoo
  • Zoo Character Ambassador meet-and-greets and rolling celebrations

The Lantern Festival is an event that begins after the Zoo closes for the day. Tickets do not include daytime Zoo admission. The lanterns are the true stars of the event. While the animals in our care take a rest during the evening hours, the focus of the Lantern Festival is on creating memories with family and friends during this 8-week event.

FAQ

Celebrating Centuries-Old Traditions

The Chinese Lantern Festival offers a modern take on the ancient art of lantern making, a tradition dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.)!

These stunning lanterns have evolved over centuries from simple lighting tools to intricate art forms. Today, they are crafted from modern materials and technology, featuring brilliantly lit LED bulbs, musical enhancements, sound effects, and visual moving parts to create life-sized animal lanterns.

A team of artists will be working on-site leading up to the opening of the event to create these exquisite scenes which include animals from around the world including sea lions, life-size rhinos, hippos, peacocks, and even the mystical and enchanting Chinese dragon!
 

tiger lantern