The Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival is an evening festival where sections of the zoo are lined with Asian lanterns, usually of animals and flowers, some Asian delicacies are offered at concessions stands and there is a selection of entertainment at the Pavilion.
2026 DATES:
August 20-23, 2026
August 27-30, 2026
September 3-6, 2026
September 10-13, 2026
September 17-20, 2026
September 24-27, 2026
October 1-4, 2026
October 8-11, 2026
October 15-8, 2026
October 22-25, 2026
Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
4850 W Powell Rd
Powell, OH 43065
Website: https://www.columbuszoo.org/lantern-festival
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This post documents my experience on September 13, 2024.
As dusk settled over the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium…
…families were arriving for the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival.
The sun hadn’t yet completely set…
..but the lanterns were still illuminated enough to appreciate their beauty…
…with bees and butterflies…
…snails and Venus Fly Traps…
…a giant octopus and coral…
…and lions waiting in the flowers.
Meanwhile around the festival grounds, animal mascots welcomed guests…
…shows and presentations took place at the Lakeside Pavilion…
…including a shadow puppetry show…
…and concession booths offered snacks, meals and various drinks…
…sometimes with as Asian inspired treat or two for the festival.
Eventually, the difference in light brought the attention strictly to the lanterns…
…as they led people to the water…
…or down various pathways…
…oftentimes in the same zoo area of the animal they represented…
…and they celebrated flowers, fish…
…tall, impressive giraffe…
…pandas…
…primates…
…porcupines and chameleons…
…jumping kangaroos…
…grazing zebras…
..and even some huge dragons.