John Ball Zoo Lantern Festival begins Wednesday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Colorful lights, foods and entertainment enter John Ball Zoo Wednesday as the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival begins.

On Tuesday, media invited to preview the show. It runs Wednesdays through Sundays from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. through June 16.

“The lantern experience is actually 95% different from last year. So if you came last year, it’s going to be a completely new experience,” said Mariah Malone, Marketing Events Coordinator at John Ball Zoo.

New lanterns and “interactive experiences” are set up on a mile-long path through the zoo. The festival will have themed food, drinks, special merchandise as well as live entertainment from local cultural groups.

Malone said the group’s goal is to bring together conservation and culture.

“We have Asian culture, Chinese culture right at the beginning, and then as you walk through, you’ll be able to go underwater we have an ocean section, and then it goes right into insects and then you’ll come out through this section as well,” she said.

Performances that feature movement like hula hooping and jumping happen three times a night at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tickets are based on time and sold for every half hour from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. They are $22 on Wednesdays and Thursdays for non-zoo members ($19 for members) and $24 Fridays through Sundays for non-zoo members ($21 for members). There is a four-pack of tickets available at $70 for non-members and $60 for members Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fridays through Sundays, they are $75 for non-members and $65 for members. Children under 2 are free.

They must be purchased in advance on the zoo’s website.

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