Lanterns and Light

A festive after-dark light trail at Chester Zoo with immersive installations, puppets, fairground rides and family-friendly and adults-only evenings.

Chester Zoo's Lanterns and Light is an after-dark Christmas light trail running from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with timed entry slots from 4:15pm to 8pm. Visitors follow a new route through the zoo past immersive light installations, interactive puppets and fairground rides, with festive food and drink and a chance to meet Father Christmas; the journey takes around 60-90 minutes and indoor animal habitats remain closed. Two adults-only evenings take place on Thursday 19 November and Tuesday 8 December, and every ticket helps fund the zoo's conservation work.