Asian Lantern Festival is staying lit into September at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is keeping the lights on for a while longer.

The Asian Lantern Festival is extending its run at the zoo an additional 14 nights, continuing through Sept. 17. The final night is the Wild Ride event, allowing guests to ride bikes through the zoo after-hours to experience the illuminated lanterns one last time.

“Already more than 100,000 guests have enjoyed this year’s Asian Lantern Festival,” Cleveland Metroparks Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Manderfield said in a statement. “And beginning this Friday, as part of the festival, guests can check out the zoo’s newest habitat, Susie’s Bear Hollow, home to Andean and sloth bears.”

Among the large-scale displays planned in this year’s event are a nearly 40-foot-tall giant lantern, walk-through tunnels, and a 150-foot-long Enchanted Garden Experience, which immerses guests in larger-than-life displays featuring butterflies, flowers and insects.

There also are live acrobatic performances and a variety of culturally inspired food.

Walk-through tours of the festival are from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. A Drive Thru Experience is offered on select nights, allowing guests to drive thru the festival in their vehicles.

Wild Ride is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 17. Bikes are required and tickets are on sale at FutureForWildlife.org/wildride. Member tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 2-11. Non-members tickets are $16 for adults and $11 for children ages 2-11. Children under 2 are free.

Tickets for the festival are on sale and guests can reserve a spot and save by purchasing tickets in advance. The advance discounted cost for Zoo members is $19, or a four-pack for $60. Advance non-member tickets are $22, or a four-pack for $70. Same-day tickets can be purchased at the box office for $25, or a four-pack for $75. Drive-through tickets are $45 per vehicle for members and $55 per vehicle for non-members. Children under 2 are admitted free.

The Meijer supermarket chain is the primary sponsor of the event, with CrossCountry Mortgage, Fifth Third Bank and Serpentini Chevrolet also supporting displays and events.

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