Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo

Announcing a raft of new additions to its much-loved Lanterns and Light spectacle, the zoo unveiled it is again teaming up with entertainment giants Sony Music to deliver this year’s festive event.

The trail promises to be even longer and more exciting than last year, with the event opening on November 15 and going all the way through to New Year’s Day for the first time. 

Organisers say visitors will journey through a number of distinct and vibrant lands where they’ll encounter an exciting line-up of costumed characters and new animal puppets including meerkats, peacocks, red pandas and snow leopards. 

An “incredible” new soundscape will add to the immersion, with animal lanterns, such as dragonflies hovering over water, elephants in permafrost and exotic birds flying overhead, decorating the route of the stunning light trail. 

The event will see the return of ‘selfie favourites’ such as glowing cathedral tunnels of light, while a whole new festive menu will be on offer at bustling food and drink markets stationed in various locations within the zoo.

Ticket sales will help to support the conservation zoo in its efforts to protect some of the planet’s most threatened species.