Lantern Fest to light up nights at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Once the animal denizens have bedded down for the evening, a menagerie of a different sort will spring to life Aug. 1, opening night of the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival.

A new attraction, the family-friendly experience will illuminate the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with more than 60 sets of luminous, larger-than-life lanterns shaped like animals from around the globe. Through Sept. 29, guests can marvel at the multicolored LED lanterns from 7-10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

Produced by Hanart Culture, the exhibit highlights the evolution of lantern-making from the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) to the present and features musical enhancements, sound effects and visual moving parts.

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Guests also can learn about aspects of Asian culture through two nightly shows varying from acrobats and folk music performances to puppet shows and kung fu demonstrations. Other offerings attendees can enjoy during the Lantern Festival include:

• Select rides such as the zoo’s historic Grand Carousel, as well as Havoc Harbor, Mission Macaw and Tidal Twist in Adventure Cove

• Interactive photo opportunities throughout the zoo

• Zoo-character ambassador meet-and-greets and rolling celebrations.

A rain-or-shine event, the Lantern Festival is ticketed separately from zoo admission. The cost for Columbus Zoo members is $18.99 for adults and $15.99 for children. For nonmembers, admission is $25.99 for adults and $22.99 for children. Parking is free for the festival.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit columbuszoo.org/lantern-festival.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival opens Aug. 1 through Sept. 29