Asian Lantern Festival Returns to the Zoo This August

They’re back and bigger than ever! After dazzling the region in 2021, the Asian Lantern Festival will make its triumphant return to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on select nights starting August 12 through October 30. The all-new display will include favorites from days past: dinosaurs.

Over 50 massive silk and steel handcrafted sculptures will once again shine along the pathways of the Zoo at night, with the largest lanterns soaring 30 feet high and reaching 100 feet long. The lanterns will highlight Asian culture and history while also featuring endangered and extinct animals.

“The Asian Lantern Festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our Zoo, our species conservation work, and celebrate the cultures that make this world a special place,” said Pittsburgh Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman. “The Zoo and our partners couldn’t be more excited to bring the festival back this year.”

The lanterns will be built and installed through the month of July in partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. In addition to the lanterns, themed food and entertainment will brighten the atmosphere of the festival. The Zoo works locally with the Organization of Chinese Americans to organize regional performance groups. Over 120,000 guests attended the festival during the fall 2021 event.

“Seeing these lanterns in the daytime is really impressive, but when they are lit up at night it is awe-inspiring,” said Allan Marshall, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Vice President of Internal Relations. “If you thought last year was great, just wait until you see this new display.”

Ticket presale for Zoo Members begins Friday, July 1 on pittsburghzoo.org. General admission tickets go on sale Friday, July 8. Tickets are expected to sell quickly, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online at https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event-asian-lantern-festival