Asian Lantern Festival - General FAQs for Walk-Through and Drive-Through Dates
1. Does a ticket to Asian Lantern Festival also provide entry to the Zoo?
Asian Lantern Festival is a separate ticketed event that provides entry to the Zoo when the event begins at 6:30 p.m. each night. Thousands of lanterns are placed across several destinations of the Zoo including the Welcome Plaza, African Savanna, Wilderness Trek, Asian Highlands, Waterfowl Lake and more.
Regular Zoo admission hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and does not provide entry to Asian Lantern Festival. You must exit the Zoo by 5 p.m. and re-enter at 6:30 p.m. under a separate ticket for Asian Lantern Festival.
2. What is admission to the event?
Save on tickets when you purchase in advance. The advance ticket discounted cost on walk-through evenings for Zoo members is $19 and $22 for non-members, or a 4-pack for $60 for Zoo members and $70 for non-members.
Advance online ticket sales end at 5:30 p.m. on the same day as the event. In-person tickets can be purchased on the same day at the box office for $25 each or a 4-pack for $75. Children under 2 are admitted for free.
The Box Office opens at 6:00 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m. during Walk-Through Events
Drive-through event tickets are sold by the vehicle. The Box Office is not open during Drive-Through nights. Scroll down further to the Drive-Through FAQs for this pricing and information
3. Help! I can’t find my online ticket. What do I do?
After an online purchase, guests should receive their ticket order via email within a few hours. If you notice that you haven’t received your emailed ticket order yet, try the following. Ticket orders from the zoo are from zooinfo@clevelandmetroparks.com. Try searching for that sender in your inbox. Ticket orders are attached as pdfs and some email clients will divert these attachments into a Spam/Clutter/Junk or similar folder. Try checking these alternate locations if you cannot locate your ticket order in your inbox.
If you notice before your event date that you cannot locate your online ticket purchase, and none of the above suggestions worked, please call 216.635.3391 for assistance in having the ticket order resent to you.
On the evening of your event, if you notice that you cannot locate your online ticket purchase, please check in at the Box Office between 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. to have Zoo staff assist you in person. During Drive-Through evenings, please notify Zoo staff directing traffic flow as the Box Office is not open on Drive-Through nights.
4. How do members get their discounted tickets?
Members receive a discount on Asian Lantern Festival tickets only when purchased in advance. Members who walk-up the evening of the event must pay the regular walk-up price. For advance purchase tickets, members must log-in on the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website with either their permanent member number and the last name of the primary member or their web credentials when they purchase tickets in order for the reduced price to appear in their shopping cart. Members that have recently purchased a new membership or renewed an existing membership will experience a delay when trying to immediately use their membership for discounted purchases. Please allow 2-3 business days for new or renewed memberships to be effective.
5. Are there any other discounts?
Group pricing is available for the Walk-Through event for groups over 20 people. Large group ticket orders require order placement and payment at least ten (10) days in advance for processing. The price for ordering 20+ tickets at once for Asian Lantern Festival is $15.00 per person ages 2 years and older. Please call (216) 635-3304 for details. Discounts do not apply on Drive-Through evenings.
6. Are there any discounts for children?
Children under age 2 enter Asian Lantern Festival free. Ages 2 and up require a ticket. Families can save by purchasing the 4-pack discount or by purchasing in advance online.
7. Do Total Experience holders also receive a discount?
Carousel, Train and 4D are not open during Asian Lantern Festival, only the Eagle Zip Adventure. We will honor the member and member total experience discounts for Eagle Zip Adventure with proof of membership/TEP membership during Asian Lantern Festival - $9.00 for non- members, $8.00 for members and $7.00 for members with TEP.
8. What days can I come for an Asian Lantern Festival Walk-Through?
Walk-Through Dates:
July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
August 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17,18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31
September 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16
9. What are the hours of the Asian Lantern Festival?
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. On Walk-Through nights, guests may enter at any time after the start of the event and stay on the grounds until 10:30 p.m. Drive-Through nights have timed entries between these operating hours for which guests must reserve a specific entry time online. Your entry time for the drive through event is selected at the time of ticket purchase.
10. Can I visit all the animals during Asian Lantern Festival?
No. The event footprint does not extend to the whole zoo. Along the event pathway some animals may be less visible at night and depending on their needs they may choose to stay out of public view during the evening hours. Oftentimes, elephants, tigers, and bears may be seen. Amur and Snow Leopards are nocturnal and may be more active during event hours.
11. What parts of the Zoo will I NOT be able to see?
The Asian Lantern Festival will not include any part of Australian Adventure, or Primate, Cat & Aquatics areas; all buildings, including The RainForest, will remain closed.
12. Are these the same lanterns as last year?
No. This year’s event promises all new highlights featuring Instagrammable moments and large-scale displays, including a nearly 40-foot-tall giant lantern, walk-through tunnels and a 150-foot-long Enchanted Garden Experience presented by CrossCountry Mortgage.
13. Is Asian Lantern Festival a family-friendly event?
Asian Lantern Festival is designed for everyone to enjoy- from a family outing, romantic date or coworker get-together.
14. Are attractions such as the carousel going to be open?
The Eagle Zip Adventure will be open during the Walk-Through nights of the festival, additional fees apply. Zip line rides are not included in the price of an Asian Lantern Festival ticket. The Circle of Wildlife Carousel, Boomerang Train, and 4D Theater will not be open during the festival.
Zipline pricing is $9.00 per person, $8.00 per person for Zoo members, and $7.00 per person for Zoo members with Total Experience privileges.
15. Does the 4-pack work for any combination of adults/children?
The 4-pack works for guests of all ages (from ages 2 and up). All four people must be present at the same time to gain entry. Children under the age of 2 years are free and do not require a ticket for entry
16. Who can I contact with general questions about this event?
You may contact us at 216-635-3391. Staff are available 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily. On event evenings, staff are available through 9:30 p.m.
17. Are refunds or rain checks available for inclement weather?
No – this is a rain or shine event. No rain checks are available for either the Walk-Through experience or Drive-Through dates.
18. When will the special performances occur each night?
Live performances can be seen during Walk-Through nights at 6:45, 7:45, 8:45, and 9:45pm. Each performance will total approximately 15 to 25 minutes and occur at the Savanna Theater inside the Zoo.
19. Can I rent a stroller during the Asian Lantern Festival?
Yes, our rentals are operated out of the Gift Shop and are located in the Welcome Plaza on the right side under the orange awning. We have strollers and wagons available to rent. Strollers are $12 plus tax, wagons are $15 plus tax.
20. Can I rent a wheelchair or electric scooter during the Asian Lantern Festival?
Yes, our rentals are operated out of the Gift Shop located in the Welcome Plaza on the right side under the orange awning. We have push wheelchairs and electric scooters available to rent. We highly suggest that guests reserve wheelchairs and electric scooters in advance. You can place a reservation by calling the gift shop at 216-661-7603. Electric scooter operators must be 18 years or older.
Pricing:
*Electronic rentals are available weather permitting as Electric Scooters and Scooter Pals will not be available in inclement weather (i.e., rain).
21. Will there be Food and Beverage available for purchase?
Yes, but options may vary between Walk-Through and Drive-Through dates.
On Walk-Through dates we will have Asian inspired food options as well as some daily favorites for sale at the Main Food Court, Pizza Hut, Wilderness Grill, Mini Melts in Wilderness Trek, Kernels by Chrissie stand, Jack Frost Donuts stand, and 808 Hawaiian Ice stand. Alcoholic beverages will also be available at select concession stands.
On Drive-Through dates, only Kernel's by Chrissie and Dippin Dots will be available for purchase during Drive-Through evenings. Large meal options will not be available on Drive-Through evenings.
22. What Asian Food and Beverage options will be offered?
Palava Hut- Crispy pork eggrolls, vegetable pakora with mango salsa, mongolian pork skewers, lemongrass chicken skewers, shrimp lo mei, shredded pork lo mein, specialty souvenir cocktails, Sushi 86/Poke 86.
Wow Bao- Combo pack bao: teriyaki chicken, and BBQ pork (1 each), spicy Mongolian beef bao (2 each), cheeseburger bao (2 each), coconut custard desert bao (2 each), vegetable potstickers, veggie fried rice bowl, teriyaki chicken and fried rice bowl, kung pao chicken rice bowl.
Tenders Love and Chicken- Szechuan chicken tenders, pineapple teriyaki grilled chicken sandwich, Szechuan cauliflower wings.
Burger Kitcken- Aloha burger.
23. Can I bring my own food to the event?
Yes, outside food and drinks (excluding alcohol) are permitted. Disposable straws, glass bottles and grills are prohibited.
24. Are there items I should not bring to the zoo?
Glass bottles, disposable straws, bicycles, skateboards, recreational scooters, Heely’s shoes, roller skates, hoverboards, electric powered toy cars/trucks, remote controlled cars, sporting balls, grills and pets are prohibited inside the Zoo.
25. Will there be any areas open for retail shopping?
Yes, we will have artisan made Asian crafts for sale and our Main Zoo Gift Shop will be open with items and souvenirs available for purchase.
26. Will Asian Lantern Festival occur during Twilight at the Zoo on August 5th?
There will be no Asian Lantern Festival on Friday, August 4, 2023 due to Twilight at the Zoo, though guests attending Twilight can still enjoy a majority of the colorful lanterns across the event.
27. How much walking is required to see the lanterns? Will there be any trams available?
No, trams will not operate during the event. The majority of lanterns are located throughout the lower portion of the Zoo along an approximate 1.5-mile paved path. For guests that require assistance walking, wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for rent through the Main Gift Shop, reservations are suggested at 216.661.7603.
28. Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed. Pets are not allowed in vehicles during Drive-Through evenings.
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Drive-Through Specific FAQs
1. What is admission to the event on Drive-Through nights?
$55 per car, one tour for non-members. For Cleveland Zoological Society members, $45 per car, one tour.
Box Office is closed during Drive-Through Events. Day-of tickets will need to be purchased online, pending availability.
2. What days can I come for the Asian Lantern Festival Drive-Through?
Drive-Through Dates:
July 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
September 6, 13
3. Can I get out of my vehicle?
No, guests must stay in their vehicles at all times. If there is an emergency situation, there will be marked pull-off areas during the tour.
“Guests participating in Asian Lantern Festival Drive-Through experience at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo are hereby prohibited from exiting their vehicle except in designated safety zones or unless exigent circumstances exist. Regulation 509.01 (a)(5). Violation of this is a minor misdemeanor.”
4. What size vehicle can I use to tour the Zoo?
Vehicle size is limited to 20 feet in length, and 6 ½ feet width, and 9 ½ feet tall for example a Ford F250 truck. It is recommended for guests to drive their smallest vehicle, if possible.
5. What does my ticket include?
One drive through Asian Lantern Festival at the designated entry time on your ticket. Please arrive within 30 minutes of your scheduled time.
6. How long is the experience?
Times may vary, the average estimated time is 45 minutes.
7. Do I need to buy tickets online or can the tickets be purchased on site?
All tickets must be purchased online in advance; tickets are timed in 30-minute time slots. Tickets must be scanned before entering the Zoo at two locations. Please make sure your ticket is available to show staff prior to entering.
8. I purchased tickets online, what do I do next?
Please either print your tickets prior to arrival or have them readily available on a mobile device to be scanned at the Zoo. Please arrive within 30 minutes of your scheduled time. If you cannot locate your emailed ticket, please refer to the earlier response for question #3 under “General FAQs for Walk-Through and Drive-Through Dates”.
9. Do you drive through in your own vehicle or do you have shuttles available to rent?
You will drive your own vehicle. There are no shuttles available.
10. Will there be restrooms available?
There are restrooms available prior to entrance of the Zoo. Restrooms will be unavailable on Zoo grounds.
11. Can I drive through in a convertible with the top down or motorcycle?
Convertibles are permitted, motorcycles are not.
12. Can we ride in the back of a truck?
No, all guests must remain inside a vehicle.
13. Once I exit the Zoo, can I go through again on the same day?
No, unless another available ticket is purchased.
14. Can I smoke in my car?
No, the Zoo is a tobacco-free campus.