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Phone: 407.323.4450
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Asian Lantern Festival

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Select Dates November - January

Join Us For This Spectacular Event

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will transform at night into the Asian Lantern Festival.

Tickets & Details Coming Soon

About the Experience

Experience the Zoo like you’ve never seen it before!

This holiday season, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will glow once again as it hosts the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix!

Step into a world of light and color like you’ve never seen before. Wander the three-quarter-mile pathway filled with all-new, handcrafted lantern scenes, each glowing with thousands of LED lights. Ocean-inspired landscapes meet mythical creatures, from graceful ice dragons and unicorns to a new twist on our beloved showcase dragon.

Experience the beauty and tradition of Asian lantern festivals right here in Central Florida, and enjoy exclusive seasonal food and drink offerings available for purchase throughout the festival.

This dazzling after-hours event is perfect for guests of all ages and is only available for a limited time.

Tickets

Tickets are only available online and must be purchased in advance for specific entry times: 6 p.m., 7 p.m., or 8 p.m. Space is limited, and nights will sell out quickly. Walk up tickets will not be available. All guests are welcome to stay until 10 p.m. closing, regardless of entry time.

Schedule

Select Nights
Nov. 13, 2026 –
Jan. 17, 2027
6-10 p.m.

DATES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AS TICKETS SELL OUT

Special Experiences

Sensory Nights
Dec. 1 & Jan 12

Adults-Only Nights
Dec. 10 & Jan 5

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Countdown
Dec. 31 @ 7 & 8 p.m.

The Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild is the only event in Central Florida celebrating the culture, art, and beauty of traditional lantern festivals celebrated throughout Asia for centuries. This inaugural event was created in partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., an international event design and manufacturing company headquartered in Zigong, Sichuan, China.

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has been transformed into a dazzling evening experience featuring more than 30 larger-than-life displays of illuminated sculptures depicting animals, plants, and traditional Chinese elements. In addition to the hand-made LED lit lanterns, festival attendees will get to enjoy local food and beverage options, live music, and authentic artisan crafts.

The festival is a walking journey on a 3/4 mile path around the Zoo. Manual wheelchairs are available for rent on a first come, first served basis. The festival is being held entirely outdoors at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens located at 3755 W. Seminole, Blvd, Sanford FL 32771. Get Directions!

No. Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild is a separate event from the Zoo, and occurs at night outside of normal Zoo operating hours. Only a ticket to Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild is required. Purchase tickets online.

 

Yes. Groups of 15 or more may receive a discount. We also have a limited number of nights available for private events and buyouts. For group tickets or company parties, please contact events@centralfloridazoo.org

This event is held rain or shine. No refunds or date exchanges are allowed.

All-new themed lantern displays around the Zoo.
Unique crafts, live music, and the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens like you’ve never seen them before.

No. Our animals have access to their night habitats for their safety. Please visit the Zoo during normal operating hours if you wish to see animals.

The last admission time is at 9:15 p.m. No exceptions.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

No. Tickets can only be purchased on our website.

Four-packs allow guests to take advantage of extra savings! One four-pack includes four tickets to the event. All tickets need to be used on the same date and time. If a four-pack is not used in its entirety, it cannot be redeemed for another night.

 

No. The Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild is an event that takes place outside of normal Zoo operating hours, and therefore, not included your passholder benefits. However, we do offer our passholders a discounted rate! Just check your inbox for purchasing instructions or follow the link here.

If a night shows to be sold out on our website, then it is truly sold out. However, there is a chance that multiple guests are shopping at once and have some of the last remaining tickets in their shopping carts. If they do not proceed with their transactions, then yes, the tickets would then become available again. We encourage you to check back periodically or, of course, take advantage of another open night.

Yes. We set capacities on all dates and times so that guests have a smooth flow of traffic, available parking, and the best experience possible.

Typically, it takes most groups one to 1 ½ hours to walk through and see everything. It is a 3/4 mile path. However, do not feel rushed if you take longer. You do not miss anything from the earlier time slots if you choose a later one. Guests are allowed to go around the path more than once. Last entry is at 9:15 p.m.

 

Yes, guests may walk the lantern path as many times as they choose.

 

No re-entry is allowed.