Grand Rapids Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo – Spring 2026
The GR Lantern Festival is lighting up John Ball Zoo once again and it promises even more wonder!
As you step into the realm of magic, let your imagination wander as you walk through the Realms of Wonder—where each lantern tells its own story, blending culture and creativity into an unforgettable experience.
From Wednesday, April 8 – Sunday, June 14, you can explore dazzling nighttime landscapes filled with over 50 hand-crafted Chinese lanterns, glowing wildlife scenes and brand-new interactive displays that bring art and nature to life.
Plus, 2026 features all NEW lanterns and even MORE interactive exhibits. This event is a top thing to do in GR, so even if you’ve gone before, you’ll want to go again this year for a whole new experience.
Be sure to grab your tickets starting March 16.
in this article
What to Expect at the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival
Get ready for a breathtaking experience for all ages. As the sun goes down, the festival comes to life every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 14.
John Ball Zoo has teamed up with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. to bring this festival to Grand Rapids for its third year.
(Our city was the first and remains the only place to see these incredible works of art in Michigan.)
As the largest Chinese lantern festival producer in North America, they were the first company to bring authentic Chinese Lantern traditions to the U.S. and Europe.
TLDR
- one-mile pathway lined with intricate lantern lights and activities
- one-of-a-kind event, unique in Michigan
- held at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, April – June
- entertainment & concessions available
- tickets required
- plan at least an hour, pay attention to time of sunset
All New Lanterns for 2026
This year’s lantern festival set-up and line-up is all NEW! You can look forward to more interactive displays that the kids (and adults!) will love.
Walking the Lantern Festival
The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival features handcrafted Asian-themed lantern displays on a mile-long path through the zoo.
Walking through the entire festival takes roughly 1 – 1 ½ hours.
Many of the zoo walkways are on a gradual incline, as the zoo is built into the side of a steep hill.
The first half of the trail is a climb; the second half is the descent.
The pathways are accessible and wide.
Surfaces are either paved or boardwalks, making them suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
You may even encounter roaming entertainment, like these Chinese Dragon performers throughout the festival. (2024)
About the Lanterns
Constructed from metal frames and covered in fabric, the lanterns are lit from inside, making them glow.
Special luminescent tunnels will make you marvel at your surroundings as you walk the path.
This year’s theme is Realms of Wonder.
You’ll find lanterns in three distinct themes: fantasy, underwater, and cultural.
Every lantern festival is unique.
The theme and lanterns are custom to John Ball Zoo for this year.
Lanterns, Music & Interactive Fun
Head to the top of the hill to find most of the interactive lanterns and displays.
Stop by the animal race game to see whose light can reach the end of the track first.
The swings are back, begging for a ride.
You can also play music on the giant lit keyboard a la Big and challenge a friend on the teeter-totter.
See if you can shout into the microphone loud enough to make the jack in the box style animals appear.
This is much harder than it seems!
Try your hand at the light chase game.
Track the orange light moving around the circle and hit the button when it lands on the blue light.
You’d think this would be easy, but it’s suprisingly challenging.
Don’t miss your chance to watch yourself dance – in lights!
Bonus #1:
If you enter the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival in too much of a hurry, you might miss out on the first interactive lanterns.
You can talk into the microphone by the parakeets just inside the entrance and they’ll repeat it back!
Bonus #2:
Take the time to stop at the Fairy Adventure.
Repeating every few minutes, you’ll hear the plants chatting with each other. They tell a mysterious creature behind the doors about the humans here to visit.
Push the button when they give you the cue and the doors open, revealing the surprise inside.
The festival also features themed foods and beverages, special merchandise and live entertainment from local cultural groups at this hilltop stop.
Food & Extras at 2026 Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo
Several concession stands fill the air with tantalizing smells when the lantern festival is in session.
Each kiosk sells different fare, so be sure to take advantage of the offerings at each stop. Our family loved sharing the giant Dole whip inside of an actual pineapple!
Intricate face painting is also on the menu, as are traditional Chinese souvenirs.
This really is an event every age group can enjoy.
Timing Your Lantern Festival Visit
The lanterns take on a different look as the sun sets. If it’s important to you to experience the festival under full darkness, pay attention to the timing of the sunset. In early April, the sky is still quite bright at 8 PM, but is fully dark by 9 PM.
The festival is fun no matter what the light level, but it’s good to know that timing of your tickets can impact the visual display you experience. (link to check sunset times in Grand Rapids)
festival at sunset
festival at twilight
festival after dark
Watch on Instagram
2026 Lantern Fest Ticket Prices
Tickets are available to purchase online.
Member ticket access starts March 9. General Admission tickets opens March 16. (Zoo members receive a discount on their ticket purchases.)
How much do Zoo Lantern Tickets cost?
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY | GENERAL ADMISSION
Tickets start at $22 per person ($19 for members)
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY | 4 PASS TICKETS
*This means you are purchasing 4 tickets for 4 people on the same night.
Non-members | starts at $79
Members | starts at $68
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY | GENERAL ADMISSION
Tickets start at $25 per person ($21 for members)
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY | 4 PASS TICKETS
*This means you are purchasing 4 tickets for 4 people on the same night.
Non-members | starts at $90
Members | starts at $83
All children 2 years old and under are FREE! Children ages 3 and up will require a ticket.
Timed tickets sold every 30 minutes. Last entry at 10:30 PM. Advanced tickets required.
2026 Dates & Details
The lantern festival runs April 8 – June 14, 2026, at John Ball Zoo (1300 W Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
It will be open Wednesdays – Sundays starting April 8, from 7:30 – 11:30 PM.
Timed tickets are available in half-hour increments starting at 7:30 PM. Last entry at 10:30 PM.
To book your tickets, simply select the date you’d like to attend the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival from the zoo’s website.
Then, select your preferred 30-minute timed entry slot.
Event Tickets
Zoo Lights FAQS
Do I have to purchase tickets online in advance?
It’s recommended that patrons purchase tickets online ahead of time to ensure an available ticket at your preferred entry time. Tickets may be purchased onsite if entry time capacity is still available. The ticket booth is open every night and the Lantern Festival runs from 7:30-10:30 PM.
Do I only get to enjoy the festival for my ticket time slot?
Entry times are staggered to ensure an enjoyable guest experience. Once you’ve entered the event you can enjoy it at your own pace. You can stay until the festival closes for the evening if you’d like.
Are the animals visible during the Lantern Festival?
Animals will not be viewable on the Lantern Festival route at night. For the animals’ safety, they are kept on their typical nightly routine and for most of them, that means that they are in their indoor habitats for the night.
If I am a member at a Zoo that provides a reciprocal discount for Daily Tickets, does that mean I also get a discount on the Lantern Festival?
It does not. Discounts are only available to those who are members at John Ball Zoo.
Do you issue refunds if the weather is bad?
The Lantern Festival will operate rain or shine. Refunds are not offered for any tickets purchased. If necessary, tickets can be moved to an alternate date. To do that, please email info@jbzoo.org, provide the Booking ID on your tickets and the alternate date you would like to move to.
*There is no guarantee that you will be able to move your tickets if the alternate date you are requesting is full.
Is there food?
Several food options are provided throughout the park during the festival.
How long does it take to walk through the whole zoo lights tour?
It takes roughly 1 – 1 ½ hours to walk through the entire Festival.
Do I have to pay for parking?
No, parking is free during lantern festival hours.
Will You Attend the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival?
Let us know in the comments if you plan to go to this amazing Grand Rapids event!
More Photos from the 2026 Grand Rapids Lantern Festival
Loved it last year. Have my tickets for this June. So amazing. Can’t wait to see the new
display.
Loved the event last year (I went twice) and I plan to go again this year!!
Is the ticket for the Lantern Festival in addition to the zoo admission?