Tickets Go On Sale For Racine Zoo Lantern Festival

RACINE, WI — In a first of its kind for the Racine area, the Racine Zoo and the Zigong Lantern Group are partnering to host the 2019 Chinese Lantern Festival here at the Racine Zoo.

Tickets for the lantern festival are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $12 for children between the ages of three and 15 years old. Group tickets are also available, as are season passes. Tickets for the festival have now gone on sale and can be purchased online here.

The festival will run a total of 80 nights between October 1 and December 31. The festival will be held between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weeknights. Specific festival dates are to come.

Colorful and intricately-designed lanterns will look like pieces of artwork during the day, and will come to life at night as they are illuminated for all to see. Visitors to the Zoo will be able to see the larger-than-life lanterns under construction during the latter part of August and in September.

There will be 25 different elements that will first greet visitors at the main Zoo entrance. The displays will continue through to the south end of the Zoo grounds.

"What a wonderful opportunity for the Racine Zoo to be partnering with the leading lantern makers in the world. Take a stroll around the Racine Zoo and immerse yourself in the incredible works of art," Beth Heidorn, Executive Director of the Racine Zoo, said.

"From tigers, lions, pandas, exotic flora, and a colossal dragon, Racine Zoo will be transformed into a world of illumination. To top it off, an array of food and drink vendors will make the Lantern Festival a truly unforgettable event."

Heidorn said the Racine Zoo was approached by the Lantern Group out of China to be the site of one of their next Lantern Festival.

This fall's festival at the Zoo immediately follows successful events that were held at the Tampa Lowry Park Zoo, Gilroy Gardens near San Francisco and the Dallas Expo at Dallas Texas fairgrounds. The Racine Zoo will be the first Midwest Zoo for the Zigong Lantern Group's famous festival.

The Zigong Lantern Group is the largest industry group of its kind engaged in lantern culture innovation, ranking the top one in overseas market.