Asian Lantern Festival - General FAQs for Walk-Through and Drive-Through Dates
1. Does a ticket to Asian Lantern Festival also provide entry to the Zoo?
Asian Lantern Festival is a separate ticketed event that provides entry to the Zoo when the event begins at 6:30 p.m. each night. Thousands of lanterns are placed across several destinations of the Zoo including the Welcome Plaza, African Savanna, Wilderness Trek, Asian Highlands, Waterfowl Lake and more.
Regular Zoo admission hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and does not provide entry to Asian Lantern Festival. You must exit the Zoo by 5:30 p.m. and re-enter at 6:30 p.m. under a separate ticket for Asian Lantern Festival.
2. What is admission to the event?
Save on tickets when you purchase in advance. The advance ticket discounted cost on walk-through evenings for Zoo members is $21 and $24 for non-members, or a 4-pack for $63 for Zoo members and $73 for non-members.
Advance online ticket sales end at 4:30 p.m. on the same day as the event.
All walk-up tickets the evening of the event can be purchased at the Box Office for $27 each for both Zoo members and non-members. The 4-pack ticket is only available during the pre-sale period and cannot be purchased in person on the evening of the event. Children under 2 are admitted for free.
The Box Office opens at 6:00 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m. during Walk-Through Events. Last entry into the event is 10:00 p.m.
Drive-through event tickets are sold by the vehicle. The Box Office is not open during Drive-Through nights. Scroll down further to the Drive-Through FAQs for this pricing and information
3. Help! I can’t find my online ticket. What do I do?
After an online purchase, guests should receive their ticket order via email within a few minutes. If you notice that you haven’t received your emailed ticket order yet, try the following. Ticket orders from the zoo are from [email protected]. Try searching for that sender in your inbox. Ticket orders are attached as PDFs and some email clients will divert these attachments into a Spam/Clutter/Junk or similar folder. Try checking these alternate locations if you cannot locate your ticket order in your inbox.
If you notice before your event date that you cannot locate your online ticket purchase, and none of the above suggestions worked, please call 216.635.3391 for assistance in having the ticket order resent to you.
On the evening of your event, if you cannot locate your online ticket purchase, please check in at the Box Office between 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. to have Zoo staff assist you in person. During Drive-Through evenings, please notify Zoo staff directing traffic flow as the Box Office is not open on Drive-Through nights.
4. How do members get their discounted tickets?
Members receive a discount on Asian Lantern Festival tickets only when purchased in advance. Members who walk-up the evening of the event must pay the regular walk-up price. For advance purchase tickets, members must log-in on the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo ticketing website with either their permanent member number and the last name of the primary member or their web credentials when they purchase tickets in order for the reduced price to appear in their shopping cart. Members that have recently purchased a new membership or renewed an existing membership will experience a delay when trying to immediately use their membership for discounted purchases. Please allow 2-3 business days for new or renewed memberships to be effective. If you have any questions regarding your membership, contact Cleveland Zoological Society betwen 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m at 216.635.3329.
5. Are there any other discounts?
Group pricing is available for the Walk-Through event for groups over 20 people. Large group ticket orders require order placement and payment at least ten (10) days in advance for processing. The price for ordering 20 or more tickets at once for Asian Lantern Festival is $15.75 per person ages 2 years and older. Please call 216.635.3304 for details. Discounts do not apply on Drive-Through evenings.
6. Are there any discounts for children?
Children under age 2 enter Asian Lantern Festival free. Ages 2 and up require a ticket. Families can save by purchasing the 4-pack ticket in advance online before 4:30 p.m. the evening of the event.
7. What days can I come for an Asian Lantern Festival Walk-Through?
Walk-Through Dates:
July 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27
August 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31
September 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14
8. What are the hours of the Asian Lantern Festival?
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. On Walk-Through nights, guests may enter until 10:00 p.m.and stay on the grounds until 10:30 p.m. Drive-Through nights have timed entries between these operating hours for which guests must reserve a specific entry time online. Your entry time for the Drive-Through event is selected at the time of ticket purchase.
9. Can I visit all the animals during Asian Lantern Festival?
No. The event footprint does not extend to the whole zoo. Along the event pathway some animals may be less visible at night and depending on their needs they may choose to stay out of public view during the evening hours. Oftentimes, elephants, tigers, and bears may be seen. Amur and Snow Leopards are nocturnal and may be more active during event hours.
10. What parts of the Zoo will I NOT be able to see?
The Asian Lantern Festival will not include any part of Australian Adventure, or Primate, Cat & Aquatics areas; all buildings, including The RainForest, will remain closed.
11. Are these the same lanterns as last year?
No. This year’s festival features 70 large-scale illuminated vignettes featuring thousands of individual lanterns.
15. Is Asian Lantern Festival a family-friendly event?
Asian Lantern Festival is designed for everyone to enjoy- from a family outing, romantic date or coworker get-together.
16. Are attractions such as the carousel going to be open?
The Eagle Zip Adventure and the Circle of Wildlife Carousel will be open during the Walk-Through nights of the festival. Additional fees apply. These attractions are not included in the price of an Asian Lantern Festival ticket and must be purchased separately on-site. Memberships with the add-on Wild Savings Pass privileges will be honored during the event.
Zipline pricing is $9.00 per person, $8.00 per person for Zoo members, and $7.00 per person for Zoo members with Wild Savings Pass privileges.
The Circle of Wildlife Carousel pricing is $4 per person, $3 for Zoo members, and free for Zoo members with the Wild Savings Pass privileges.
Boomerang Train, and 4D Theater will not be open during the festival.
17. Does the 4-pack work for any combination of adults/children?
The 4-pack ticket bundle is only available during the online advance sale period (which ends daily at 4:30 p.m.) and works for guests ages 2 and up. All four people must be present at the same time to gain entry. Children under the age of 2 years are free and do not require a ticket for entry.
18. Who can I contact with general questions about this event?
You may contact us at 216.635.3391. Staff are available from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. On event evenings, staff are available until 9:30 p.m.
19. Are refunds or rain checks available for inclement weather?
No – this is a rain or shine event. No rain checks are available for either the Walk-Through experience or Drive-Through dates.
20. When will the special performances occur each night?
Live performances can be seen during Walk-Through nights at 6:45, 7:45, 8:45, and 9:45 p.m. Each performance will total approximately 15 to 25 minutes and occur at the Savanna Theater inside the Zoo.
21. Can I rent a stroller during the Asian Lantern Festival?
Yes, we have strollers and wagons available to rent. Strollers are $12 plus tax, wagons are $15 plus tax. These items are available for walk-ups at the main gift shop located in the Welcome Plaza on the right side under the orange awning. On high volume days, walk-up guests can rent strollers from the Wilderness Trek gift shop as well when the Bear overflow parking lot is used.
22. Can I rent a wheelchair or electric scooter during the Asian Lantern Festival?
Yes, our rentals are operated out of the Gift Shop located in the Welcome Plaza on the right side under the orange awning. We have push wheelchairs and electric scooters available to rent. We highly suggest that guests reserve wheelchairs and electric scooters in advance. Guests may call 216.661.7603 to reserve a push wheelchair or electric scooter. All reserved wheelchairs and scooters must be picked up at the main gift shop near the Zoo’s front entrance. Please inform the parking attendant if you have a reserved item from the gift shop.
Electric scooter operators must be 18 years or older.
Pricing:
*Electronic rentals are available weather permitting as Electric Scooters will not be available in inclement weather (i.e., rain).
23. Will there be Food and Beverage available for purchase?
Yes, but options may vary between Walk-Through and Drive-Through dates.
On Walk-Through dates we will have Asian inspired food options as well as some daily favorites for sale at the Tenders Love and Chicken, Burger Kitchen, Pizza Hut, Safari Market, Mini Melts, Savanah Watering Hole, Wilderness Grill, Highlands Cafe, Kernels by Chrissie, Jack Frost Donuts, Wade Hall Ice Cream Shop and 808 Shaved Ice. Alcoholic beverages will also be available at select concession stands.
On Drive-Through dates, only Kernel's by Chrissie will be available for purchase during Drive-Through evenings. Large meal options will not be available on Drive-Through evenings.
24. What Asian Food and Beverage options will be offered?
Palava Hut - Wow Bao serving Asian style rice bowls, bao buns and more; 216 Trading Co featuring other Asian style favorites
Wilderness Trek - Highlands Cafe - rice bowls, potstickers, and more
25. Can I bring my own food to the event?
Yes, outside food and drinks (excluding alcohol) are permitted. Disposable straws, glass bottles and grills are prohibited.
26. Are there items I should not bring to the zoo?
Glass bottles, disposable straws, bicycles, skateboards, recreational scooters, Heely’s shoes, roller skates, hoverboards, electric powered toy cars/trucks, remote controlled cars, drones, sporting balls, grills and pets are prohibited inside the Zoo.
27. Will there be any areas open for retail shopping?
Yes, we will have artisan made Asian crafts for sale along the lower African Savanna paythway across from the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve in addition to the folowing retail locations selling souvenirs and themed items: Wild Gifts (Main Gift Shop), Waterfowl Lake, Asian Highlands. Retail shops will not be open during Drive-Through event evenings.
28. Will Asian Lantern Festival occur during Twilight at the Zoo on August 2nd?
There will be no Asian Lantern Festival on Friday, August 2, 2024 due to Twilight at the Zoo, though guests attending Twilight can still enjoy a majority of the colorful lanterns across the event.
29. How much walking is required to see the lanterns? Will there be any trams available?
No, trams will not operate during the event. Most lanterns are located throughout the lower portion of the Zoo along an approximate 1.5-mile paved path. For guests that require assistance walking, wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for rent through the Main Gift Shop, reservations are suggested at 216.661.7603.
30. Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed through either Walk-Through evenings or in vehicles during Drive-Through evenings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drive-Through Specific FAQs
1. What is admission to the event on Drive-Through nights?
$55 per car, one tour for non-members. For Cleveland Zoological Society members, $45 per car, one tour. The Box Office is closed during Drive-Through event. Day-of tickets will need to be purchase online before 4:30 p.m. pending availability.
2. What days can I come for the Asian Lantern Festival Drive-Through?
Drive-Through Dates:
July 10, 17, 24
August 7, 14, 21, 28
September 4, 11
3. Can I get out of my vehicle?
No, guests must stay in their vehicles at all times. If there is an emergency situation, there will be marked pull-off areas during the tour.
“Guests participating in Asian Lantern Festival Drive-Through experience at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo are hereby prohibited from exiting their vehicle except in designated safety zones or unless exigent circumstances exist. Regulation 509.01 (a)(5). Violation of this is a minor misdemeanor.”
4. What size vehicle can I use to tour the Zoo?
Vehicle size is limited to 20 feet in length, and 6 ½ feet width, and 9 ½ feet tall for example a Ford F250 truck. It is recommended for guests to drive their smallest vehicle, if possible.
5. What does my ticket include?
One drive through Asian Lantern Festival at the designated entry time on your ticket. Please arrive within 30 minutes of your scheduled time.
6. How long is the experience?
Times may vary, the average estimated time is 45-60 minutes.
7. Do I need to buy tickets online or can the tickets be purchased on site?
All tickets must be purchased online in advance; tickets are timed in 30-minute time slots. Tickets must be scanned before entering the Zoo at two locations. Please make sure your ticket is available to show staff prior to entering.
8. I purchased tickets online, what do I do next?
Please either print your tickets prior to arrival or have them readily available on a mobile device to be scanned at the Zoo. Please arrive within 30 minutes of your scheduled time. If you cannot locate your emailed ticket, please refer to the earlier response for question #3 under “General FAQs for Walk-Through and Drive-Through Dates”.
9. Do you drive through in your own vehicle or do you have shuttles available to rent?
You will drive your own vehicle. There are no shuttles available.
10. Will there be restrooms available?
There are restrooms available prior to entrance of the Zoo. Restrooms will be unavailable on Zoo grounds.
11. Can I drive through in a convertible with the top down or motorcycle?
Convertibles are permitted, motorcycles are not.
12. Can we ride in the back of a truck?
No, all guests must remain inside a vehicle.
13. Once I exit the Zoo, can I go through again on the same day?
No, unless another available ticket is purchased.
14. Can I smoke in my car?
No, the Zoo is a tobacco-free campus.