The Pittsburgh Zoo Glows with 350 Handmade Lanterns

PHOTOS BY NATALEY DAVIS

As you walk through the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium this holiday season, your path will be illuminated by 350 handmade lanterns containing millions of sparkling lights — and your soundtrack will be holiday music that adds magic to a series of larger-than-life displays.

The Highland Park institution presents its second annual installment of “Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience” through Jan. 11. The enchanting experience is presented in partnership with UPMC Health Plan, and offers 70 lantern displays, a meet-and-greet with Santa (until Dec. 23), seasonal food and drinks for purchase— and live acrobatic performances, scheduled daily.

Samuel Holloway, director of special projects and events for the zoo, describes the event as a four-fold experience: As guests move into different sections of the zoo, he explains, they’ll discover a holiday village, large animal-themed lanterns with educational plaques, a mystical themed area and a section inspired by Asian decor and culture.

A new partnership with Kaleido Entertainment, a nationally active creator of family-friendly experiences, provided the zoo with new themed silk and steel lantern sets.

“It gives us the opportunity to do brand new lanterns, stuff that people who have come last year [have] never seen before, and then really change up the layout to be a little more [about] telling a story, a little more themed,” Holloway says.

Holloway has worked closely with Kaleido since the end of last year’s inaugural event, workshopping themes and ensuring lights are strategically placed to avoid disturbing the animals. (While this specific incarnation of the zoo’s winter programming, which expands on its popular fall lantern shows, is only in its second year, the institution has held different holiday lights events in prior years.)

He adds that feedback from last year’s event helped to make this installment bigger and better.

“Even though a lot of our park is currently under construction because we’re in our off-season … we’ve added more,” he says. “We’ve added music throughout the park. The performers and entertainment, we made sure [they’re present every night], so no matter what night you come, you can see them.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the zoo’s website (and vary in availability and pricing, depending on patron age and night of the week). “Wild Illuminations” is open from 5:30-10 p.m., with final entry at 9 p.m., nightly except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.