Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s lantern festival is all about building hope for species around the world!
Our first lantern festival kicks off on March 19 and runs through May 10! As spring begins, join us at night to celebrate light, hope, and wildlife.
1. Encounter larger-than-life, handmade animal lanterns.
Walk through a sculpture garden of lanterns crafted by Hanart Culture. You’ll get to see species you know and love at the Zoo like lions, giraffes, and wolves, but also other iconic keystone species such as elephants and hippos. Go at your own pace through atmospheric ecosystems to discover ways you can help threatened species.
Lantern festivals trace back to the artistic traditions of the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago. Like many longstanding cultural traditions, there are all sorts of beliefs and legends about how the festivals started. It’s often linked to Emperor Ming, who ordered lanterns lit on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in respect for Buddha.
Over the years and across Asian cultures, the festivals’ origin has been connected to the worship of light deities, protection of villages from fire, the celebration of the end to winter’s darkness, and more.
Hanart’s detailed lanterns blend light, color, and craftmanship. They also highlight the richness of traditions influenced by many cultures and stories.
2. Make a wish for wildlife at the Hub of Hope.
The Hub of Hope transforms the Pavilions into a center for food, entertainment, and activities for all ages. Stop by the Wishing Well to make a wish for a species you care about. When you toss your token in the fountain, you will see it glow with hope!
Other creative activities connect guests to lantern festival traditions, like guessing a nightly riddle.
3. Experience other cultures
At the Hub of Hope, you can also watch presentations that celebrate cultural preservation and environmental conservation on select evenings. Halau i Ka Pono’s Hawaiian hula honors the land, sea, sky, and all living things. Surabhi Ensemble blends cross-cultural music and dance traditions.
The Chicago Muslims Green Team shares how lanterns matter for Eid while exploring creative recycling. Groups of all backgrounds will bring dances, music, multilingual storytelling, and more to light the night.
You can see the schedule of performances from 17 local community organizations on the Glow Wild event page.
4. Try new food
Glow Wild features a limited-time menu with Asian-inspired cuisine. Dim sum options include spring rolls, crab rangoon, duck dumplings, and rib tips. Try the rib tips or vegetarian tofu option over fried rice and finish it off with almond cookies!
5. Enjoy a quiet, sensory-friendly night
On Thursday, March 26, April 16, or May 7, attend a sensory-friendly night at Glow Wild. We’ll turn the music down and lower various movement-based visual stimuli for a calm and comfortable evening among the lanterns.
You can also connect with some of our community partners that offer social services, education services, and other supports for individuals and families, such as Community Support Services, Inc., El Valor, NAMI Metro Suburban, and West 40.
Since we're a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue, you can borrow a bag with noise-cancelling headphones, strobe reduction eyeglasses, fidget tools, and more at Guest Services — any day of the week!
6. Be inspired by mythology
Along the west walkway, you’ll discover an animal that you won’t find anywhere in the world, though you’ll recognize it from stories. Glow Wild’s mythology evokes wonder in the face of the unknown — especially the stunning 200-foot-long dragon sprawling half the length of Bramsen Tropical Forests.
Though you won’t encounter mythological creatures in the wild, they encourage us to be curious about wildlife. Many stories of mythological creatures may come from real animals, such as dinosaur fossils as an inspiration for dragons. Curiosity and wonder help us get excited about learning and exploring.
7. Explore interactive glowing displays
Around the park, you can stop to take photos with oversized wings along Roosevelt Fountain, climb King Nyani under an entryway arch, go wild on lit-up colorful swings at the East Mall, and walk through a light tunnel.
8. Ride the Carousel and the Ferris Wheel
Your Glow Wild ticket comes with unlimited free rides on both the Carousel and the reopened Ferris Wheel—two of our most beloved attractions. From atop the Ferris Wheel, you’ll have an overarching view of the lanterns.
9. Rent the Lantern Lounge
Following the popularity of our Holiday Magic igloo, you can now reserve the Lantern Lounge dome on the East Mall during Glow Wild. The heated private space includes special food and beverage packages for up to 12 guests. It’s only available for 90-minute reservations at 6 or 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays during Glow Wild.
You can choose from the Snack Package, Dinner Package, or Combo Package for your evening. Call 708-688-8355 to inquire about Lantern Lounge reservations.
10. Imagine a future for endangered species
Drawing on lanterns’ long history as a light in the darkness — and wishing for brighter days — Glow Wild invites you to think about what it would look like for species to thrive in our world. The brilliant, oversized world of lanterns brings you close to pangolins, gorillas, koalas, and other endangered species that need our help. By using our imagination, we can problem-solve together across cultures, inspiring hope in one another.
At Brookfield Zoo Chicago, we find hope in many places — Rosy’s newly arrived pangopup, the future return of elephants, polar bear Amelia Gray’s arrival, animals such as Mexican wolves or Guam kingfishers reintroduced into the wild, and more! And of course, you bring us hope when you visit the Zoo and connect with wildlife.
Glow Wild ticket pricing starts at $9.95 for children and $19.95 for adults, with pricing varying by day. Each ticket includes access to all Glow Wild festival experiences, unlimited rides on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel, and complimentary parking in the North Gate lot. Glow Wild was developed in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity/Illinois Office of Tourism. Get tickets today.
