Racine Zoo Extends Chinese Lantern Festival

RACINE, WI – The Racine Zoo and the Zigong Lantern Group are extending the 2019 Chinese Lantern Festival’s run in 2020.

The Festival will run for four additional weekends from Friday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Feb. 9. The
Lantern Festival will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a closing
time of 9 p.m. Tickets will be $5 per person online or at the gate. Unused tickets and season
passes are still valid.

Colorful and intricately-designed lanterns look like pieces of artwork during the day, and come to
life at night. From tigers, lions, pandas, exotic flora and a colossal dragon, the Racine Zoo
transforms into a world of illumination.

There are 32 different scenes that will first greet visitors at the main Zoo entrance. The displays continue throughout the south end of the Zoo grounds.

"We are so excited to continue this amazing festival," Chelsea Locke, the Zoo's Special Event
Manager said in a statement.

Here's what it takes to make the approximately 300 pieces of lantern art that are spread across
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