Discover the Magic of the Asian Lantern Festival at Central Florida Zoo

Nothing marks the holiday season quite like the sparkle of twinkling lights. The Central Florida Zoo in Sanford takes this to a whole new level with a dazzling immersive display that combines Asian culture with the shimmer of the season.

The Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, now in its fifth year, transforms the night with thousands of lights and traditional Asian lanterns along a three-fourths mile walking path throughout the zoo.

As visitors stroll through the enchanting pathways, they are treated to breathtaking scenes of illuminated wildlife, mythical creatures and botanical wonders. The festival not only captivates with its visual spectacle but also offers a unique opportunity to learn about Asian traditions, art and folklore. Against the backdrop of the popular Central Florida Zoo, visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of this cultural extravaganza while enjoying live performances and engaging activities for all ages.

While the event takes place after most of the zoo animals’ bedtimes, you won’t be missing out as many of the lanterns take shape as massive creatures, including fluttering butterflies, towering flamingos, and even a prehistoric land teeming with long-lost beasts. An enormous, 50-foot-long phoenix takes center stage as her tail ripples down the path. These aren’t just light displays, they are dazzling works of art, handcrafted with colorful specialty fabric and intricate details. I was surprised to find that a great deal of the lanterns actually move, with birds craning their heads to peep at you or fairies dancing as they welcome you in.

Our family attended the festival for the first time, with our best friends, the Willis Family, who have been attending since its inception. The two 5-yearolds of the bunch, Avery and Camden (pictured below), had a blast together with the interactive exhibits, especially a dinosaur that mimics your movements as you dance in front of sensors, and a huge glowing piano that plays as you run along its keys. Tasty treats and snacks like warm soft pretzels, cocktails, hot chocolate and more are available at stops throughout the trail.

We made our way through a series of beautiful birds and a towering wall of flowers that unfurled and closed their petals as insects flitted around them. Our next stop was through a prehistoric walk, full of dangerous creatures throughout the likes of the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Pleistocene eras. A T-rex rules this land, as he oversees from a rock formation, blowing hot smoke from his mouth as he roars. The kids giggled as they were “eaten” by a massive dino skull, left dangling in its teeth.

You can follow a path along the Chinese zodiac, and find your assigned animal based on the year you were born. Each animal shows the reputed attributes the person is “likely” to have. We all took turns reading each other’s and mulling over the truths and… questionable personality traits. The most fitting being Scott is the year of the monkey – a fun personality that’s clever and curious, but mostly mischievous.

If you’ve been to the festival in the past, don’t write this off as a one-time experience. Each year, entirely new lanterns and displays are created, so there is always something new and exciting to see. Best of all, this festival runs through January 14, so if you’re too busy before Christmas you still have time.

We had a wonderful and relaxing evening strolling the bright and colorful pathways. While we each took away our favorite lantern or display from the evening, the best experience was being able to take time away from the hustle and bustle of the busiest season of the year, and share a new holiday tradition with friends who have become family. Whether this is your first or fifth year attending, this is a holiday tradition you’ll want to keep year after year!

ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL: INTO THE WILD
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford, FL 32771
CentralFloridaZoo.org
(407) 323-4450

Select Nights: Nov. 17, 2023 through Jan. 14, 2024 from 6 – 10 PM
$22.99/person ages 3 and up; 2 and under free
4-pack family package available – $71

Santa Visits: December 16 and 20
Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Countdown:
December 31 at 7 PM and 8 PM