After taking a year off, Wild Lights festival shines again at Louisville Zoo
The Louisville Zoo is once again glowing after dark.
After a yearlong hiatus, the Wild Lights festival has returned by popular demand, turning the zoo into a nighttime showcase of lights, lanterns and interactive attractions.
"It's magical. I like to use the word magical because it truly is a magical experience," said Kyle Shepherd, Louisville Zoo media and public relations manager.
The after-hours event stretches across a 1.4-mile course and features dozens of large-scale displays designed to wow families and visitors of all ages.
The festival includes 64 lantern displays spread throughout the course, along with what zoo officials say are "thousands of lanterns ... and hundreds of thousands of LED bulbs" illuminating the experience.
From giant butterflies to talking dinosaurs and a jellyfish mirror room, the festival is packed with eye-catching moments.
"It’s just a feast for your eye," Shepherd said.
Shepherd said the event is about more than just the visuals. Like much of the zoo’s programming, Wild Lights also aims to educate guests while entertaining them.
"I think everything we do is about education at the zoo, so if there’s some educational aspect, we’re gonna bring it to you, and Tianyu does that beautifully," Shepherd said. "They’ve got signage to educate you about what you’re looking at in terms of the suns, the dragons, and all those things that are in the 'Wondrous Asian' area."
The festival runs Thursday through Sunday through July 26.
It begins after the zoo closes for the night, and a separate ticket is required for admission. Tickets can be purchased at the park or online ahead of time.
