08/02/2026
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium 4850 West Powell Road Powell, OH 43065
Price: $22.99-25.99
Time: 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is excited to announce the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival will return in 2026! From August 20 through October 25, guests can experience this colorful celebration of Asian culture every Thursday through Sunday, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Lantern Festival is set to illuminate the Zoo with more than 70 sets of stunning LED lantern displays, featuring brilliantly lit animal scenes that captivate and inspire. Multicolored LED animal lanterns will illuminate paths throughout various areas of the Zoo, creating an unforgettable experience.
The Lantern Festival offers a perfect evening out for families and friends and includes:
Custom jaw-dropping performances curated just for this event
Complimentary parking
Adventure Cove and Zoo rides like Tidal Twist and Havoc Harbor, and the Zoo’s historic Grand Carousel
Interactive photo opportunities throughout the Zoo
Zoo Character Ambassador meet-and-greets and rolling celebrations
Know Before You Go:
The festival will go on, rain or shine!
Regular Zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in July. Regular Zoo hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in August. The Lantern Festival begins July 31 and runs Thursdays through Sundays from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. until October 5.
The Lantern Festival is a separate ticketed event and not included with Zoo admission.
The lanterns are the true stars of the event. While the animals in our care take a rest during the evening hours, the focus of the Lantern Festival is on creating memories with family and friends during this 8-week event.
