Animals Aglow at the Saint Louis Zoo

Explore the Saint Louis Zoo in the evenings at the Chinese lantern festival Animals Aglow! Animals Aglow returns to illuminate the Saint Louis Zoo for the second year with dozens of new, towering lanterns and light displays. 

Animals Aglow celebrates the culture, art, and beauty of traditional lantern festivals celebrated in China for centuries. During the nighttime festival’s first year in 2024, more than 131,000 guests bought tickets to enjoy larger-than-life lanterns in the shape of plants, wildlife and mythical creatures.  
 
Animals Aglow is returning with nearly all-new lanterns this year. Guests will enjoy more than 60 glowing displays, nightly cultural performances and specialty food and beverage available for purchase.
 
This year’s festival celebrates wildlife from three regions—Africa, South America and The Arctic—and will feature a section dedicated to traditional Chinese lanterns and folklore.
 
Displays this year include:

• A nearly 100-foot-long tunnel made up of traditional Chinese lanterns
• A towering interactive beehive lantern topped with giant hummingbirds
• Lanterns depicting the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs
• Interactive displays including glowing xylophones, light-up see-saws and a “starry night” walk-through tunnel in the style of Vincent Van Gogh.

Animals Aglow will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays from March 12 to May 11, 2025.  
 
The festival will include two Sensory-Friendly Nights (March 23 and April 9) that will feature a smaller attendance capacity and accommodations for people with sensory sensitivities.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at stzoo.org/animalsaglow. Prices range from $16.95 to $23.95.
Tickets to Animals Aglow include admission to nightly Chinese cultural performances.
 
The event will feature traditional handicrafts and Asian food specials for purchase. Guests can also ride the Emerson Zooline Railroad, experience the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel or try the Wild Explorer Virtual Reality Experience during Animals Aglow (separate fees). 
 
Note: Animals will not be viewable, and no animal buildings will be open during this event.

Get tickets at stlzoo.org
 

Parking is free on both Zoo parking lots during the event. Lots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Zoo will close to the public at 5 p.m. Doors reopen at 6:30 p.m. for the event.  

Animals Aglow is sponsored by Wells Fargo, Washington University in St. Louis and Mid America Chevy Dealers.