Columbus zoo lights 2024

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!