All images courtesy Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks.
To borrow an industry term, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is “wild.”
With 183 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits, along with more than 3,000 animals representing over 600 species, the Zoo is a point of pride for all in The Land.
This place is amazing for trips with the family during the daylight hours, but the real magic happens when the sun goes down and you get down with all your favorite furry, feathered or scaled friends at night. There’s nothing like a nighttime event at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and none more beautiful than the Asian Lantern Festival, just announced to return for 2025 beginning July 5.
Light up the Night
The festival has broken U.S. and international attendance records for a lighting event of its kind, and has become a summer staple in Northeast Ohio, drawing in over 150,000 guests each year. The Zoo has once again outdone themselves, as this year’s event promises all new highlights featuring Instagrammable moments and large-scale displays, including a nearly 40-foot-tall giant lantern, walk-through tunnels and a 150-foot-long Enchanted Garden Experience presented by CrossCountry Mortgage immersing guests in larger-than-life displays featuring butterflies, flowers and insects..
There will also be a limited number of drive-through opportunities on select nights for individuals and families that wish to experience the event from the comfort of their personal vehicles.
If all the glowing gloriousness wasn’t enough, there’s even more festival fun on tap:
- Hourly live performances on the Fifth Third Bank Stage featuring foot jugglers, contortionists and martial artists.
- Asian craft market.
- Culturally inspired cuisine at the MetroHealth Asian Food Market.
Follow the Glow
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival, presented by Meijer, runs Thursday through Sunday evenings, 6:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., from July 5 - Aug. 24.
Advance Tickets: $27 or $80 for a 4-pack for non-members, $24 or $70 for a 4-pack for Zoo members.
Same Day Tickets: Members $27, Non-Members $29
Children under 2 are admitted for free.
Walk Through Dates: Thursdays through Sundays beginning July 5 - Aug. 24.
Drive-Through Dates: July 9, 16, 23. Aug. 6, 13, 20.