Asian Lantern Festival lights up Chattanooga Zoo

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Zoo is lighting up its quarters once again this winter for the Asian Lantern Festival.

The Asian Lantern Festival will be hosted at the zoo from November 16 to January 14.

It is open Wednesday through Sunday nights starting at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m.

The festival started at the zoo last year, and is continuing this year with even more marvelous lantern displays.

Over 30 lanterns and nine interactive displays are available at the festival.

Marketing manager, Jake Cash said, “Basically when you come here you get to tour the zoo after hours, which is a unique experience on its own. We’re set up across the whole zoo with really cool displays… There’s three different themes. So, we’re focusing a lot on culture, art, Chinese New Year… There’s also winter wonderland, so all kinds of holiday festivities and different things like that. And, underwater adventure… So just lots of undersea life. Something that everybody will enjoy I think.”

The Asian Lantern Festival will grace the Chattanooga Zoo for roughly two months: offering a unique celebration of art, culture, and the magic of traditional Asian lantern festivals.

One of the featured displays offered November 17-18 was the traditional Lion Dance by the Chien Hong Dragon Lion Troupe.

This troupe is based in Atlanta and traveled to Chattanooga to provide a memorable experience during the festival.

“One of the big things we want to do here at the zoo is just bring the community together. I think we do that all year long, and this is just another opportunity for people to come make these really great, special memories with their friends and families. That’s really what it’s all about is just bringing the community together for those moments,” Cash added.

Festivities will continue until January of 2024.

Tickets are available online and at the gate.

Visit chattzoo.org for more information.