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 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 does not provide entry to Asian Lantern Festival.  2. What is admission to the event?  

Save on tickets when you purchase in advance. The advanced ticket discounted cost on walk-through evenings for Zoo members is $19 and $22 for non-members, or a 4-pack for $57 for Zoo members and $66 for non-members. Advance online ticket sales end at 3pm on the same day of the event. Tickets can be purchased same-day at the box office for $25 each or a 4-pack for $75. Children under 2 are admitted for free.  

Box Office closes at 9:30pm during Walk-Thru Events 

Drive-through event dates are sold by the vehicle. Scroll down further to the Drive-Through FAQs for this pricing. 

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 gotten your emailed ticket order yet, try the following. Ticket orders from the Zoo are emailed 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 to have 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 Ticket Plaza between 6:30pm-9:30pm to have Zoo staff assist you in person. During Drive-Through evenings, please notify Zoo staff directing traffic flow. 

4. How do members get their discounted 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. 

5. Are there any other discounts? 

Corporate group pricing is available for groups over (20) please call (216) 635-3304 for details. Discounts do not apply on Drive-Through evenings. 

6. Are there any discounts for children? 

Children under 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? 

No, Total Experience tickets and memberships can only be used during regular Zoo hours. 

8. What days can I come for an Asian Lantern Festival Walk-Through? 

9. What are the hours of the Asian Lantern Festival? 

The event starts at 6:30pm and ends at 10:30pm. 

On Walk-Through nights, guests may enter at any time after the start of the event and stay on grounds until 10:30pm. Drive-Through nights have timed entries between these operating hours for which guests must reserve a specific entry time.  

10. Can I visit all the animals during Asian Lantern Festival? 

Certain animals will be available for viewing throughout the event. Some animals such as the Amur and Snow Leopards are nocturnal and may be more active during event hours while other animals may be less visible depending on their individual needs. 

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 festival features 70 large-scaled illuminated displays featuring thousands of individual lanterns. 

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 Circle of Wildlife Carousel, Boomerang Train, and 4D Theater will not be open during the festival. 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.

15. Does the 4-pack work for any combination of adults/children? 

The 4-pack works for guests of all ages. All four people must be present at the same time to gain entry.  16. Who can I contact with general questions about this event?  You may contact us at 216-635-3391. Staff are available 9:00am – 4:30pm daily. On event evenings, staff are available through 9:00pm. 

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. 

19. Can I rent a stroller during the Asian Lantern Festival? 

Yes, our rentals are located in the Welcome Plaza on the right side under the orange awning. We have single and double strollers available to rent. Single strollers are $10 plus tax and double strollers are $12 plus tax.  

20. Can I rent a wheelchair or electric scooter during the Asian Lantern Festival? 

Yes, our rentals are 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. 

Push Wheelchair: $12 plus tax (+ $10 deposit and ID required) 

Electric Scooter: $30 plus tax (+ $25 deposit and ID required) weather permitting as electric scooters will not be available if it is raining. 

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 our daily favorites: Pizza Hut, Wilderness Grill, Dippin Dot Hut, Kernels by Chrissie, Jack Frost Donuts, 808 Hawaiian Ice and many more. 

Alcoholic beverages will also be available at select concession stands.  

On Drive-Through dates, only 808 shaved ice and Dippin Dots will be available for purchase during Drive-Through evenings.  

22. Can I bring my own food to the event? 

Yes, outside food and drinks (excluding alcohol) are permitted. 

23. 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. 

24. Will Asian Lantern Festival occur during Twilight at the Zoo on August 5th? 

There will be no Asian Lantern Festival on Friday, August 5, 2022 due to Twilight at the Zoo, though guests can still enjoy a majority of the colorful lanterns across the event. 

25. 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. 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. 

26. Are pets allowed?  No, pets are not allowed. Pets are not allowed in vehicles during Drive-Through evenings. 

1. What is admission to the event on Drive-Through nights? 

$66 per car, one tour for non-members. For Cleveland Zoological Society members, $57 per car, one tour. 

Box Office is closed during Drive-Thru 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? 

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, 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 shown 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.