The Asian Lantern Festival: Forest of Fantasy is coming to a close at Chattanooga Zoo, and the Zoo is welcoming some special guests for the last two nights of the festival. Elsa and Anna, from Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” will be present on January 16 and 17 for meet and greets and photos, free with festival admission.
“We know the holiday season can be very busy for a lot of people, so we like to keep the Asian Lantern Festival open well into January to make sure everyone has the chance to see it,” said Darde Long, president and CEO of Chattanooga Zoo. “Anna and Elsa will be joining us, courtesy of our friends at Magic Lamp Entertainment, so the festival is definitely ending on a high note.”
The two princesses will be in the Education Center from 6 to 9 p.m. on January 16 and 17 only. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own devices for photos.
At the Asian Lantern Festival: Forest of Fantasy, visitors take an evening tour of the Zoo and discover hundreds of glowing lanterns up to 26 feet tall that create nearly 50 distinct displays. Each year of the festival features an entirely new collection of lanterns, and this year’s festival showcases colossal dragons, gleaming unicorns, mythical beasts and lots of Christmas classics like Santa Claus, reindeer and holiday lights.
Additionally, many of the lanterns move, blow bubbles, change color and more, creating an immersive and dynamic experience. Interactive features like swings, light-up floors and more add to the fun.
“This is our fourth year of hosting the festival, and it’s probably my favorite collection of lanterns so far,” said Long. “We bring in a completely different set of lanterns each year, so I hope everyone will come out and see the lights before they’re gone!”
For Chattanooga Zoo members, festival tickets are $19 for adults and $14 for children ages 3-12. For non-members, tickets are $23.50 for adults and $17.50 for children. A special rate of $16.50 applies to groups of 15 or more. All children two years old and under are free.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit https://www.chattzoo.org/events/alf.
Chattanooga Zoo is thankful to Chick-fil-A for being the presenting sponsor of the Asian Lantern Festival: Forest of Fantasy. Chick-fil-A also served as presenting sponsor for the festival in 2023 and 2024. Other valued event sponsors include: White Duck Taco Shop, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Chattanooga Trolley Tour, Snapdragon Hemp and TVA.
