PASEO Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild PASEO

The PASEO Asian Lantern Festival runs seasonally at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford — transforming the zoo grounds after dark into a walking trail of illuminated silk lanterns handcrafted by Asian artisans. The experience is distinctly different from anything available at Florida's theme parks: quiet, beautiful, and entirely focused on the visual impact of hundreds of glowing lantern sculptures against a night sky.

The 'Into the Wild' theme means the lanterns are shaped as animals and wildlife — tigers the size of cars, schools of glowing fish suspended overhead, giant peacocks with fanned tails that shimmer. Walking the path takes 1.5-2.5 hours depending on pace and how long your kids stop to examine each installation.

For families, the event works at every age. Babies and toddlers respond to the colors and glow. Elementary-age kids are fascinated by the scale and craftsmanship. Tweens and teens who might normally resist a family outing tend to pull out their phones and start photographing. Adults find it genuinely beautiful.

Practical planning: this is a seasonal event, not a year-round attraction. Check centralfloridazoo. org for current dates, which vary annually.

Tickets are timed and should be purchased in advance — the event does sell out on peak evenings. Arrive at dusk so you experience the lanterns both in the fading daylight and after dark — the full illumination effect takes about 30 minutes after sunset to reach its peak. Bring insect repellent for an outdoor evening event.