Example video title will go here for this video
Example video title will go here for this video High Simulation Insect Sculpture
ST. LOUIS — The Saint Louis Zoo announced Friday that it will host a first-ever nighttime Animals Aglow Lantern festival this spring, displaying a "dazzling spectacle of lights" in the shape of plants and other wildlife throughout the zoo.
According to a press release from the zoo, more than 60 larger-than-life Chinese lanterns and interactive light displays in the shape of swans, a peacock bird and a dragon will grace pathways throughout the zoo. Tianyu artists handmade the lanterns by weaving thousands of LED lights over metal frames and covering them in colorful silks.
The festival will be open on Wednesdays and Sundays from March 13-May 5 between 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ticket sales start on Jan. 31 online here. Children under 2 years old can enter for free.
Guests' admission package will include the zoo's Emerson Dinoroarus exhibit and nightly Chinese cultural performances. The festival will also feature traditional handcrafts for sale and food options, including pork steam buns, firecracker chicken and dumplings in chili crisp broth. A sweet snack, Taiyaki, which is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, will also be available.
The zoo encourages its guests to walk through the Chinese Dragon Corridor tunnel where they can capture photos alongside the gigantic glowing displays and interact with other displays such as the Moonlight Swings or color-changing Star-Stepping Pads.
The zoo will also host a sensory-friendly night for those with sensory sensitivities on April 7. Tickets cost $16.95.
“We are thrilled to bring this entirely new immersive experience to St. Louis,” Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo director, said. “It’s a celebration of wildlife, Chinese culture and the artistry of lantern making.”
Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., an international event design and manufacturing company headquartered in Zigong, Sichuan, China, partnered with the zoo to create this spring event.
The zoo said animals will not be viewable and no animal buildings will be open during festival hours.
Panda Lantern Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.