One of the Biggest Chinese Lantern Festivals in the Country Is 2 Hours From Cincy

Living in Cincinnati puts us in convenient proximity to plenty of wonderful attractions, including ones that involve wild animals. But if you find yourself looking to mix things up and take a little road trip (we’re talking about a two-hour drive) consider planning a visit to the Louisville Zoo, which is currently hosting the Wild Lights Asian Lantern Festival presented by T-Mobile.

In partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, an international event design company, Wild Lights is one of the biggest Chinese lantern festivals in the country, garnering hundreds of millions of spectators in dozens of cities. It features 2,000 intricate lanterns made of 60,000 square feet of silk, 50,000 LED lights, and 65 larger-than-life scenes displayed along a 1.4-mile trail at the zoo. From a 131-foot-long dragon to a walk-through shark tunnel, there are all sorts of fantastical animals and pieces of Chinese culture reflected throughout the display.

The attraction was open for just a few weeks in the spring, but ended up getting postponed due to COVID-19. It continued again in July and will be illuminating the zoo until August 30th.

Important info before visiting:

• Guests must purchase tickets online in advance (link below). They won’t be available at the door due to COVID restrictions.
• Tickets are $15.50 per ticket for Louisville Zoo members and $18.50 per ticket for non-members. Children under two are free. Family pricing is also available.
• To manage guest capacities, visitors will select the time they'd like to enter the zoo. Entry begins at 7:30 PM and ends at 9:30 PM. The zoo closes at 11 PM.
• It ends August 30th, so get there soon!

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See the photo gallery above to get a sneak peek of the Wild Lights Asian Lantern Festival. To find out more and to purchase tickets, visit the Louisville Zoo’s website.