Asian Lantern Festival WALK-THRU
Walk-Thru Event (for drive-thru information & tickets, click here)
Join us for the all-new Asian Lantern Festival: World of Wonders at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. We will be honoring our 125th anniversary with a global passport. Get ready for an adventure over the mountains, through the jungle, and under the sea to learn about decades of conservation with a dazzling display.
Explore the Zoo at night among giant luminous handcrafted sculptures while learning about Asian history and culture. The festival also features delicious themed-food and amazing entertainment.
If you were one of the thousands of guests who marveled at the show before, 2023 features a completely new, not-to-be-missed display of lanterns.
PRESENTED BY UPMC HEALTH PLAN
WALK-Thru Asian Lantern Festival Information
Thursday through Sunday nights.
Friday, August 11 through Sunday, October 29.
6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Gates close at 9:30 p.m.
Full details below.
Throughout the Zoo.
This is an outdoor event. Most indoor facilities, including the Aquarium, will not be open.
Adult tickets range $17-$27. Ticket prices vary and discounts are available. See details below.
Walk-Thru Ticket Pricing
Adult tickets currently range $17-$27. Guests have the option of either Plan-Ahead tickets (which offer discounts when visiting on a specific day or time; learn about Plan-Ahead Pricing) or Flex tickets (premium tickets that work any night of the festival). Buy tickets now.
Members: Members save $2 on all Plan-Ahead ticket types. Discount will automatically be applied to all Plan-Ahead Asian Lantern Festival tickets in the cart once Members log in.
Groups: Groups of 15+ can automatically receive a $17 flat-rate discount on all Plan-Ahead ticket types. Discount will automatically be applied to all Asian Lantern Festival tickets in the cart. Groups must select a date and time that works for all members of the party. Note that Member discount does not apply to group sales.
No discounts are available for Flex tickets.
Guests arriving at the Zoo without Asian Lantern Festival tickets may scan a QR code to buy tickets with personal mobile devices if tickets remain available. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets before arriving at the Zoo to guarantee availability.
TICKET OPTIONS
Option 1: Walk-Thru Plan-Ahead Tickets
Discounts are available for the Asian Lantern Festival Walk-Thru when you buy Plan-Ahead tickets for the specific day and time you would like to visit. Entry times are available every 30 minutes. The earlier in the week you purchase tickets, the better the price! Learn about Plan-Ahead Pricing.
The time on tickets indicates the half-hour range you will enter the Zoo but does not require a specific exit time. Once admitted to the Zoo at the listed time for the event, you may stay in the park as long as preferred, or until park close at 10:30 p.m.
Option 2: Walk-Thru Flex Tickets
Guests looking for flexibility to visit the Asian Lantern Festival Walk-Thru experience during any day or time of the festival may purchase a Flex ticket. Flex tickets are single-use, flat-rate tickets that are good for any operating Thursday-Sunday night at any time 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. These premium-priced tickets offer options for guests with evolving plans.
Additional Ticket Information
Children under 2 years old do not require tickets.
Plan-Ahead tickets must be used on the selected evening, and are not transferrable to other nights. The event will take place rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged.
Guests looking to rent a wheelchair or electric scooter are highly recommended to place an advanced reservation. Quantities are limited. Without a reservation, rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis and there is no guarantee of availability. To make a mobility assistance reservation, please call 412-365-6020.
Animals will not be visible in their public habitat during evening hours. To see all Zoo animals, you may also like to plan a daytime visit.
Differences between WALK-Thru and DRIVE-Thru
Walk-Thru: Guests walk through the Zoo to experience lanterns. All guests over the age of 2 must purchase tickets. Most indoor buildings are closed, though guests have access to restrooms and Water’s Edge. Food, drinks, and gifts are available for purchase at kiosks. Schedule of regional performers changes nightly. Visit length is as long as preferred.
Drive-Thru: Guests drive their vehicles through the Zoo to experience lanterns. Guests pay one flat vehicle rate for all attendees in the vehicle. Guests do not exit their vehicles and all buildings and restrooms are closed. Food is available at car-side stops. Regional cultural performers are not present at the drive-thru edition. Visit length is approximately 45 minutes.
The Asian Lantern Festival features exciting and educational entertainment from local performers, showcasing cultural elements from Asian Americans and several of the countries of East and Southeast Asia. Demonstrations and performances included with admission. Entertainment is subject to change.
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
September 7: Tianyu
September 8: Zang Tae-Kwondo and Tianyu
September 9: Win-Win Kung Fu and Tianyu
September 10: Pittsburgh Taiko and Tianyu
September 14: Pittsburgh Taiko and Tianyu
September 15: Zang Tae-Kwondo and Tianyu
September 16: Tianyu and Organization of Chinese Americans
September 17: Tianyu and TBD
September 21: Pittsburgh Taiko and Tianyu
September 22: Win-Win Kung Fu and Tianyu
September 23: Tianyu and Organization of Chinese Americans
September 24: Pittsburgh Taiko and Tianyu
September 28: Pittsburgh Taiko and Tianyu
September 29: Zang Tae-Kwondo and Tianyu
September 30: Tianyu and Organization of Chinese Americans
Village Food
Sweet Chili Triple Tenders
Crab Rangoon
Pork Egg Rolls
Sriracha Popcorn
Passion Fruit Cotton Candy
Sapporo
Kirin Ichiban beer
Tsingtao beer
Orange Mangotini
Sake Sangria
Savanna Stop
Orange Mangotini
Sake Sangria
Sapporo
Kirin Ichiban beer
Tsingtao beer
Sriracha Popcorn
Passion Fruit Cotton Candy
Jambo Grill
Bok Choy Burger
– Lettuce wrapped burger with fermented Bok Choy and Sriracha
General Tso’s Chicken Pizza
Beer Den
The Green Dragon
Passion Fruit Punch
Sapporo
Kirin Ichiban beer
Tsingtao beer
Sriracha Popcorn
Passion Fruit Cotton Candy
Ice Cream
Deep Fried Ice Cream
– Vanilla Bean Ice cream coated in brown sugar, cinnamon panko with caramel and whipped cream
Jambo Patio Asian Market
Korean BBQ Skewers
Shrimp Fried Rice
Mushroom Lo Mein
Sriracha Boneless Wings
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor: UPMC Health Plan
Premier Media Sponsor: Lamar Advertising Company
Peoples Natural Gas
Beverlynn and Steven Elliot
Sally Wiggin
The Florence Boyer Foundation
Donna and James Hudson
Green Mountain Energy
VisitPITTSBURGH
Kim and Dave Zynn