The festive lanterns are returning!
Saving Christmas after what turned out to be a pretty uneventful festive season last year, Chester Zoo has confirmed that its annual lantern trail is returning this Christmas, with the festive occasion taking place from November 12 – December 23.
Transforming the zoo into a snowy winter wonderland with glistening animals dotted throughout the trail, the family-friendly event takes guests on a magical journey, through the mysterious oceans of the world, to a tropical paradise filled with familiar animals. Guests can expect the same sparkling experience this Christmas, too, with tons of different ‘worlds’ to explore throughout the trail.
Emulating the majestic creatures that inhabit the zoo, guests will be able to discover glowing zebras, monkeys, lions and other creatures, which showcase the zoo’s wildlife in a whole new light. Literally. Get lost in the stunning, colourful lanterns, before uncovering an array of spectacular costumed characters and plenty of Christmas scenes to get you into the festive spirit.
To accompany, guests will also be able to enjoy a selection of festive-themed food while they wander the glowing wonderland, with sightings of Father Christmas himself in store for the kids, too. Promising a number of ‘unexpected encounters’ throughout the keep the trail exciting, kids will need to keep their eyes peeled for the big man in red, with the zoo teasing that he could be around ‘any corner’!
Senior Admissions and Retail Manager at Chester Zoo, Gemma Bamford, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to our very special Christmas event, The Lanterns. It’s become a firm favourite and something of a family tradition for so many people now and this year will be more magnificent and magical than ever.
“The event will see the zoo transform into a spectacular winter wonderland, where guests will be welcomed into an exotic world of colour and movement, where larger than life illuminations and animal characters await.
“This year’s theme is all about shining a light on species that face a fight for survival in the wild, where numbers of many of these incredible animals are plummeting to worryingly low levels. Never-before-seen illuminations of orangutans, butterflies, caterpillars and wolves are just a few of the species that will feature as part of our ‘into the wild’ theme.
“It’s the zoo’s 90th birthday year and so another hugely exciting new area will celebrate our anniversary through a special light show – taking visitors on a journey through time as they explore our history. Lots of firm family favourites will also be returning this year, like Father Christmas, the zebras, elephants and lions who are sure to put on a fantastic show.”
The Chester Zoo lantern trail will officially enter its tenth run this Christmas, with demand for tickets expected to be even higher this year as the world finally returns to a sense of normality. To get your hands on tickets, head to Chester Zoo’s booking page here.