LET THERE BE (MORE) LIGHT

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has extended its popular Asian Lantern Festival a couple of more weeks

Staff report You haven’t missed it. While it had been scheduled to end July 28, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival has been extended through Aug. 11. That means you have a little more time to add to the more than 75,000 folks zoo officials say have visited the seasonal attraction since it opened in late June. This year’s festival expanded on the success of last year’s event with all new lantern displays, additional live performances on the Fifth Third Bank Stage and expanded options of culturally inspired cuisine, a news release from the zoo states. Highlights include more than 40 new lantern displays, including a walkthrough 100-foot-long shark tunnel, interactive zones sponsored by The Illuminating Company, an expansive display of Chinese pagodas and 200-footlong dragon. “Through the support of our community partners, including Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Fifth Third Bank and The Illuminating Company, we were able to bring back a bigger and better Asian Lantern Festival to Northeast Ohio that has seen a tremendous response,” says Cleveland Metroparks Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Manderfield in the release. Asian Lantern tickets are limited, states the release, which advises purchasing them online to secure your spot and save a little money. The discounted cost for Zoo members is $15.50 and $18.50 for non-members, while a four-pack costs $50. Advance ticket sales end at 2 p.m. the day of the event. Limited-availability tickets can be purchased same-day at the box office for $20.50 each or a four-pack for $60. Children under 2 are admitted for free.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KYLE LANZER/CLEVELAND METROPARKS The Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has proved to be so popular this summer that the zoo extended its run.

A walk-through 100-foot-long shark tunnel is among the highlights of this year’s Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.