Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival Expands for 2025 with Magical Creatures and New Experiences

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is set to glow once again as its acclaimed Lantern Festival returns for the 2025 season, this time with even more enchantment, interactivity, and after-dark magic. Beginning July 31, visitors can experience a reimagined event that blends ancient tradition with modern fantasy, all while exploring the Zoo in an entirely new light.

The Lantern Festival has become a seasonal favorite in Central Ohio, offering families a rare chance to wander the Zoo’s grounds long after sunset. This year, the event is expanding in both scope and spectacle, with over 60 handcrafted LED lantern displays and a bold new focus on mythical creatures. Think glowing dragons, soaring phoenixes, majestic unicorns, and even a lantern version of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.

What sets 2025’s edition apart is its integration with the Zoo’s recently opened North America Trek—a sweeping new region that will be fully incorporated into the event. Lanterns shaped like moose, bison, and eagles will connect the fantasy-filled nightscape with the wildlife-focused experience guests encounter during the day.

In addition to more elaborate displays, the festival will introduce interactive installations such as stomp pads, illuminated swings, and “shower clouds” that react to movement—inviting kids (and kids-at-heart) to play, not just observe.

Another standout addition: the Columbus Zoo Train, now included with Lantern Festival admission and offering an LED-lit ride through North America Trek. Lanterns will line the track, giving riders a unique way to take in the glowing scenery.

“This year, we’re especially excited to showcase the lanterns in our new North America Trek,” said Zoo CEO Tom Schmid. “It’s about more than lights—it’s about connection: to culture, to nature, and to the stories that shape how we see the world.”

 

Each of the lanterns is built by hand—crafted by a team of 20 artists from Zigong, China, a city known as the birthplace of modern lantern festivals. In total, the displays require nearly 30,000 hours of design, welding, and painting before they’re brought to life by LED lighting, music, and sometimes even moving parts.

“This is not just entertainment. It’s storytelling through light,” said George Zhao, president of Hanart Culture, the festival’s production partner. “We want guests to experience the beauty of Asian culture while being surrounded by wonder.”

Beyond the lights, the experience includes cultural performances, themed food and drink, Zoo character meet-and-greets, and access to select rides like the Grand Carousel, Flying Clipper, and Mission Macaw. Lantern-themed photo ops and immersive zones round out the evening’s offerings.

While most animals will be tucked in for the night, some indoor and evening-friendly exhibits will remain open, including Discovery Reef Aquarium, Stingray Bay, and parts of Asia Quest. Elephant viewing will be available until 8 p.m., and nightly encounters are scheduled in Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village.

Lantern Festival Ticket Info:

• Tickets are sold separately from daytime Zoo admission.
• General public: $26.99 for adults / $23.99 for children
• Zoo members: $19.99 for adults / $16.99 for children
• New this year: the Roar and Return Pass allows guests to visit the Zoo during the day and return for the festival on another night.

A limited number of VIP Lantern Specialty Tours will be offered Monday through Wednesday nights in September, featuring guided cart rides through the displays and conservation stops.

Key Dates and Details:

• Runs Thursdays–Sundays, July 31 through October 5, 2025
• 7:30pm to 10:30pm nightly
• Held rain or shine
• Closed Friday, September 19 for the Zoo’s annual Untamed fundraiser

For locals and travelers alike, the Lantern Festival is shaping up to be a must-see spectacle that goes well beyond your average Zoo visit. Whether you’re drawn in by the glowing unicorns, the food, or the nostalgia of the carousel at night, the 2025 event promises a memorable night for all ages.

For tickets and more information about the Lantern Festival, Click Here.