Get ready to celebrate at a breathtaking new addition to Atlanta’s holiday traditions. The all-new IllumiNights at the Atlanta Zoo. Tickets are on sale now for the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival which opens to the public on November 21, 2022.
Zoo Atlanta has partnered with Hanart Culture to bring IllumiNights back to Atlanta. The lantern festival, which made its debut at the Zoo in 2021 with highly positive reviews, presents a nighttime wonderland full of awe-inspiring vistas celebrating the inspirations of nature.
This will be an awesome, family-friendly event.
After dark, guests will explore more than 80 lanterns representing flora and fauna, both real and imagined – some life-sized, and others larger-than-life.
Each lantern is made and hand-painted by artisans, representing thousands of hours of work. In keeping with Zoo Atlanta’s commitment to sustainability, each lantern also features environmentally friendly LED lights.
DISCOUNT TICKETS: Before the main event, visit Zoo Atlanta during the day! Get your discount tickets HERE!
WHAT TO EXPECT
The event opens to the public on November 21, 2022. IllumiNights will continue through Sunday, January 15, 2023. The experience will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. nightly except on select dates, including Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Capacity is limited, and advance timed reservations are strongly recommended.
The route for IllumiNights is wheelchair and stroller friendly and should take about an hour to walk through. But don’t touch it! The lanterns are meant to be seen but not handled.
For those wondering if the lanterns’ real life counterparts will be out at this event — the answer is no. Most animals go indoors before dark, so they won’t be in their habitats during IllumiNights. Only the lantern-versions will be out for your enjoyment.
Now, let’s talk about tickets! IllumiNights is a separate ticketed event, and advanced reservations are highly recommended. This is a family-friendly event, but it’s also perfect for a date night too! It’s definitely meant for everyone to enjoy.
As with General Admission zoo tickets, children under 2 are free at this event. Everyone 3 and up must have a ticket.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and the carousel will be running during IllumiNights.
At Zoo Atlanta, masks are optional at the outdoor locations, but are required at indoor locations for everyone 2 and up.
There are perks for Zoo Atlanta members! In addition to receiving an exclusive discount, Zoo Atlanta Members will also have access to a Member-only preview of the event from November 17 through November 20, 2022.
HISTORY OF THE CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL
This is your chance to experience a taste of traditional Chinese culture. Travel through the art of lantern making, dating back to 2,000 years ago, with a modern twist.
The Lantern Festival may originate as far back as the Han dynasty, when Buddhist monks would light lanterns on the 15th day of the lunar year, and the festival celebrated Buddha. The rite was later adopted by the general population and spread throughout China and other parts of Asia.
Chinese holiday that traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Chinese people celebrate this holiday by enjoying colored lantern displays and eating sweet glutinous rice in the shape of balls called tangyuan.
Pretty cool huh?
WHERE TO STAY FOR THE CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL
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She relishes the discovery of obscure, offbeat and unwonted places, and she will chat up any willing stranger to uncover a new secret locale. If she’s not exploring in the RV, she’s either hiking the trails or checking out the whiskey scene at their current location.
Lesli lives and travels with her two kiddos -Cooper and Elliot- and her soul mate, husband and business partner, Dan. They call Colorado home, at least for the moment.
