South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Asian Lantern Festival returns for third year
Pandas, dragons, piranhas and creatures of all kinds are coming to life with lights as the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild glows at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
The seasonal event is now in its third year at the Sanford attraction with hundreds of individual lanterns, bringing Central Florida locals and visitors an educational experience at the intersection of technology, entertainment and art.
Visitors can explore hundreds of individual lanterns, live music, interactive displays and food through Jan. 15.
Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. presents the festival with workers spending long hours at the zoo for about a month leading up to the event’s opening.
“It’s a lot of hard work. They work every single day from the moment they get onto the property until the day the show opens,” said Stephanie Williams, the zoo director. “For us, there’s an excitement to seeing it all come together.”
Pandas are at play prominently in the opening scenes as guests begin their walking tour. Over the course of about three-quarters of a mile, see 46 groups of lanterns comprising puffer fish, dragons, octopus, seals and traditional lanterns that light the path.
Some displays encourage interactivity such as a lucky wheel and lanterns that pulse to the beat of a drum that visitors can play.
Food is also a factor as guests wander the grounds of the zoo. Joey Cusmano, the zoo’s executive chef, came up with several fusion dishes to satisfy the palate this year.
“I like to play on different things like chicken and waffles, so I made General
Tso’s chicken with fried rice in a waffle cone. I did the same thing with orange chicken,” he said, adding there are s’mores kits available to use around the fire pit.
Last year, more than 80,000 people attended the Asian Lantern Festival, demonstrating a demand for what’s becoming an annual tradition.
“Our presales have been really strong and we attribute that to people who have come before and want to come again, or who have told other people,” said Richard Glover, the zoo’s CEO. “A lot of times that can translate to those people coming back during the daytime to see the zoo.”
While the festival doesn’t have a specific tie-in to
Christmas or Hanukkah, it provides a way for guests to experience Chinese culture and a chance to spend time with loved ones.
“The traditional lantern festival is all about being with your family so it’s a joy to bring that here and invite the community to see. It’s for all ages,” Williams said.
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