Chinese Lantern Festival Starts Tuesday At Racine Zoo

RACINE, WI – After months of preparation, the Racine Zoo and the Zigong Lantern Group are set to debut the 2019 Chinese Lantern Festival.

The festival will run a total of 80 nights between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. The festival will
be held between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on select Fridays and Saturdays. Specific festival dates are to come.

“We are excited to kick off and host the largest event in our 96-year history,” Beth Heidorn,
Executive Director of the Racine Zoo, said. “What a wonderful opportunity for the Racine Zoo to be partnering with the leading lantern makers in the world.”

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

Here's what it takes to make the approximately 300 pieces of lantern art that you’ll see at the Zoo:

• 50 tons of steel
• 40,000 feet of silk
• 33,000 feet of LED light belts
• 5,000 strings of LED fairy lights
• 15,000 LED bulbs
• 36,000 feet of cable and wire

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.

Tickets for adults 16 years and older are $20 inline and $25 at the door. Senior tickets are $15
online and $20 at the door. Child tickets between the ages of three and 15 years are $12 online
and $17 at the door. Children two years old and younger are free. Go to Racinezoo.org to buy
tickets online.

Festival Dates and Times:

Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2019
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sundays – Thursdays (Last entry 9 p.m. Zoo closes at 10 p.m.)
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Fridays & Saturdays (Last entry 10 p.m. Zoo closes at 11 p.m.)

The festival is closed on the following dates:
Oct.: 28
Nov.: 4, 11, 18, 25, 28
Dec.: 2, 9, 16, 23, 24, 25