Beginning September 14th, 2023 and continuing through December 2nd, “Glow Wild,” a brilliant, illuminated Lantern Festival, will be held at the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Thursday through Sunday evenings. The Glow Wild Lantern Festival is designed for everyone to enjoy and makes the perfect family outing with kids.

The festival will showcase more than 35 large-scale illuminated displays, featuring hundreds of beautiful individual and interactive lanterns.

Spanning the width and breadth of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s 30 acres, guests are invited to walk through glowing corridors. Displays of flora and fauna will light up the night sky, dazzling guests of all ages! The Glow Wild Lantern Festival is designed for everyone to enjoy – whether a family outing, romantic date, or coworker get-together.

Dates and Times:

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild Lantern Festival will be held Thursday – Sunday from September 14- December 2 from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM.

Ticket Information:

• ​Adult tickets (ages 12 +) are $22
• Children (11 and under) are $20
• Children under three and adults over 75 are free

Timed tickets should be purchased online at beardsleyzoo.org in advance, offered in half hour increments. A small number of tickets may be available at the door, depending upon Zoo capacity.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo continues to offer guests enchanting Centennial Year experiences! As a continuation of the Zoo’s yearlong 100th birthday celebration, the Zoo will host a larger-than-life Lantern Festival inspired by our wild world. This incredible evening festival will showcase more than 35 large scale illuminated sculptures that will amaze guests of all ages.