The displays of Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild will return on select nights from November 15, 2024, to January 19, 2025 at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Central Florida’s well-known grocery store, Publix, will also return as the festival’s presenting sponsor. And in the Year of the Dragon, the popular dragon lantern will make its return to the festival.
“We are excited to bring back one of the most anticipated and beloved holiday events in Central Florida,” said Zoo CEO Richard E. Glover, Jr. “It’s a true community event, and we are thankful to collaborate once again with Publix for this spectacular holiday tradition.”
The festival features larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns lit by more than 10,000 LED lights. The event combines beautiful color, light and sound to deliver an experience celebrating traditional Asian lantern festivals.
Lanterns are situated on a 3/4-mile loop around the zoo, providing a unique take on a holiday lights show.
This is the fifth year for the festival, which started in 2019 and was not held in 2020. Last year, the event once again broke attendance records, with more than 90,000 people heading through the zoo’s gates to marvel at the spectacular festival. With many new lanterns to join the festival this year, past attendees will have plenty to capture their senses.
“We are excited to be the presenting sponsor for the Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens again this year,” said Hannah Herring, Publix media relations manager. “We look forward to another opportunity to be part of this tradition with our customers, associates and the community this holiday season.”
The festival is presented in partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.
