Wed 7/14-Sun 9/5 @ 6:30-10:30PM
If you visited the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in the last month or zoo, you would have seen random bunches of metal flowers and oversized inflatable animals lying round on the grassy areas along the paths, awaiting … the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival.
The festival has proven so popular it’s now in its fourth year, and while it retains several days of the drive-through option that was created last year for pandemic reasons, it’s back to a full-fledged event.
Each Thursday through Saturday evening (and Wednesdays in July) after the zoo closes for the day, visitors can come in and see more than 70 large illuminated displays (made up of all those parts and pieces that were lying around) with more than 1,000 lanterns: all new and different from last year.
And all the enhancing events that make this a real festival are finally back with live performances by acrobats, martial arts practitioners and others, an Asian craft market and Asian food from local restaurants. Note: while some of the animals may be visible, many of their areas will not be open.
The festival opens Wednesday July 14 and runs through Sunday September 5. Get your tickets here.
clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo/asian-lantern-festival