Contact: Kyle Shepherd
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
(O) 502-238-5331 (C) 502-744-5639
Zoo Announces Photo Contest for May’s National Photo Month
The Louisville Zoo is excited to announce that its popular lantern festival – Wild Lights: Around the World – is being extended through Sunday, June 4. These eight additional evenings allow Zoo guests extra chances to see the largest lantern festival in the region. Tickets are available online at louisvillezoo.org/wildlights.
Wild Lights Photo Contest
The Zoo is celebrating National Photo Month in May with a Wild Lights photography contest on its Facebook page. One prize winner will be chosen weekly and will receive four tickets for general admission to the Zoo. Weekly winners will also be featured on the Zoo’s website and in an upcoming issue of Trunkline magazine, the Zoo’s quarterly publication. More information about the contest including rules, guidelines and how to participate, is available at https://louisvillezoo.org/photocontest.
About Wild Lights
With an almost entirely new lineup of lanterns, guests can see sights from around the world on their 1.4-mile excursion through the Zoo. Famous landmarks, flora and fauna from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia are highlighted in six different zones. As families venture through the Zoo’s pathways each evening, they will experience handcrafted, illuminated art displays comprised of silk-covered, metal frames and LED lightbulbs. The event features over 50,000 LED lightbulbs, 18 interactive displays, eight animated lanterns and 10 color-changing pieces that together present a spectacular feast for the eyes. A few lantern highlights include a walk-through cobra corridor, a giant blue morpho butterfly, and a shark-themed photo opportunity that is nine feet tall! Other lanterns to look forward to include the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Hall of Supreme Harmony and so much more!
This immersive experience features live cultural performances, including Chinese folk dances, acrobatics and more. There are also unique hand-crafted goods available for purchase, along with snacks and cocktails by SSA Group — the Zoo’s food and amenity vendor.
Wild Lights is in partnership with Stewart Promotions and Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc., an international event design company.
The event is wheelchair and stroller-friendly on a paved path. The festival is rain or shine and is held from 6:30 – 10 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday night through June 4.
PRICING
General admission is $22, and Louisville Zoo members receive a discounted admission at $19. Children 2 and under are free and do not require a ticket. Family Four Pack tickets are available for $75; Zoo members may purchase the Family Four Pack at a discounted rate of $65. Family Four Pack ticket holders must enter the event together. Tickets are available for purchase in advance online only.
Regular daytime Zoo admission tickets and Wild Lights tickets must be purchased separately. Parking for this event is $7 and can be purchased in advance online during your purchase or at the Zoo admission windows. For more information, visit louisvillezoo.org.
“Wild Lights: Around the World” is sponsored by Bob Ray Company, LG&E and KU Foundation, Norton Children’s and Neil and Jane MacDonald Family.
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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).