Entry No. 81 — the Wichita file — filed under: after-dark

Wild Lights Asian Lantern Festival (Sedgwick County Zoo)

Each autumn the zoo closes the daytime animals and reopens after dark as a walk-through field of hundreds of hand-built, internally lit Asian lantern sculptures: animals, plants, and mythical creatures glowing along the paths. Now several years running, it transforms familiar zoo grounds into a softly illuminated night route. It is a fall-only, ticketed evening event rather than a year-round attraction.

The move: Stroll the dark zoo paths hand in hand, weaving between glowing oversized lantern animals and mythical creatures lit from within.

📍 Before you go Autumn season only (typically lit nightly Sunday-Wednesday in past years), ticketed; animals/indoor exhibits not viewable. 2026 dates announced closer to fall.

• 📍 Northwest Wichita
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W Zoo Blvd, Wichita, KS 67212

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3

last checked: 2026-06-23