My absolute favorite event in Chattanooga is the Asian Lantern Festival. It first arrived at the Chattanooga Zoo in 2022, and I will never forget the experience of attending it for the first time that year. To say it is a magical experience is an understatement. The enchantment of the glowing lanterns in a Tennessee winter evening is truly unforgettable. Another great thing about this event is that the lanterns and activities are different year to year so that visitors can have a new experience each time they visit.
I asked Jake Cash, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Chattanooga Zoo, why they decided to bring this festival to the zoo each year. He shared that the Asian Lantern Festival started as a replacement for the holiday lights event. He went on to say, “We really wanted to take our winter celebration to the next level, and a traditional lantern festival emerged as one of the options. It works well for us because it is such a unique twist on holiday lights, and it fits the atmosphere at Chattanooga Zoo really well. Plus, we are able to utilize different themes each year to create a totally new experience at each festival.”
He continued by sharing some insight into the new additions that visitors can expect this year. “The festival is themed after dinosaurs and the Amazon Rainforest, and features a massive t-rex, a color-changing chameleon, a host of exotic rainforest animals and many other captivating displays. The festival includes hundreds of handcrafted lanterns that are arranged in 40 distinct displays across Chattanooga Zoo and also features interactive games. Plus, with the addition of our new Cape of Africa section, which was completed earlier this year, this is the biggest Asian Lantern Festival yet!”
I had the opportunity to experience this year’s Asian Lantern Festival with my family on its opening day, Tuesday, November 26th. Like years before, it did not fail to impress! Several of the lanterns included animatronic components which brought them to life. Another one of my favorite additions toward the Nature Play area was a fountain of lights to walk through. I always love mystical additions like that one! When I asked my kids what their favorite part was they enthusiastically said, “All of it!”
