More than 1,200 handcrafted lanterns will light up the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium starting Aug. 20, giving Powell and Liberty Township families a 10-week run of after-hours spectacle.

The Lantern Festival, now in its third year, runs Thursday through Sunday evenings from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. through Oct. 25. The event runs rain or shine.

New this year: colorful dinosaur-themed lanterns, a floating lantern display on Conservation Lake and interactive experiences in Adventure Cove and around the lake. The festival has grown from roughly 60 lantern sets in 2024 to more than 70 this year, according to 10TV.

The lanterns are produced in partnership with Hanart Culture, a Central Ohio company. Skilled artists from Zigong, China, handcraft the multicolor LED displays, drawing on a centuries-old lantern-making tradition. The zoo's official event page describes the displays as more than 70 sets of Asian lanterns depicting wildlife scenes from around the world, with multicolored LED animal lanterns illuminating paths throughout the grounds.

Beyond the lights, visitors can catch live entertainment, complimentary rides, themed food and drinks and photo spots. Select animals are viewable during festival hours, including the sea lion and seal tunnel in Adventure Cove (open until 10:30 p.m.), Stingray Bay (until 10 p.m.) and the Aquarium at Discovery Reef (until 8:30 p.m.). The Naomi Coyle Dempsey Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center in Asia Quest stays open until 10:30 p.m.

Tickets and details

The festival requires a separate ticket from daytime zoo admission. Non-member prices are $28.99 for adults and $25.99 for children, according to Columbus on the Cheap. Zoo members pay $21.99 for adult admission. A combined ticket bundling discounted daytime zoo access with festival entry is also available. Visitors can purchase tickets at columbuszoo.org/lantern-festival.

Private guided VIP tours are offered on select nights when the festival is closed to the public. Details are available at columbuszoo.org.