Chinese lantern festival coming to Racine Zoo

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) – A new Chinese lantern festival will light up the Racine Zoo this fall. 

The festival will run 80 nights between October 1 and December 31. You'll be able to check out the exhibit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weeknights. 

Colorful and intricately-designed lanterns will look like pieces of artwork during the day and will come to life at night as they are illuminated for all to see. The large lantern exhibits are handmade in Zigong, China.

There will be 25 different elements that will first greet visitors at the main Zoo entrance. The displays will continue through to the south end of the Zoo grounds.

Visitors to the Zoo will be able to see the larger-than-life lanterns under construction during the latter part of August and in September.

The Racine Zoo will be the first Midwest Zoo for the Zigong Lantern Group's famous festival.