A dazzling maze of light, colour and imagination lit up Edinburgh Zoo on Thursday (13 November) as Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns officially opened.
As dusk fell, the trail, which has made its glowing return after six years, came to life with towering illuminated sculptures and intricate light displays.
This year’s interactive under the sea experience takes the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) visitors on a luminous journey into the deep, featuring marine wildlife, legendary sea creatures and ocean mysteries. All brought to life by more than 600 hand crafted lanterns, some standing at an impressive 20 feet high.
Open to visitors from now until February 22 2006, the interactive trail includes an enormous 14 meter whale for visitors to walk through, a giant crab and a journey through Atlantis. Over 12,000 LED bulbs light the trail which was created in just three months by Inlight Festival Group (the Zigong Lantern Company).
Locally inspired scenes feature iconic and lesser-known native Scottish species, from the much-loved puffins to the critically endangered flapper skate, one of the world’s largest rays and a focus of RZSS’s conservation efforts.
Lindsay Ross, events and experiences manager at RZSS, said: “After a six-year hiatus we are so pleased to bring back Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns, bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before!”
Along the route, visitors can enjoy festive treats such as toasted marshmallows, mulled wine and other seasonal favourites.
Tickets for Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns are on sale now from their website edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns.
Ticket prices vary for off-peak, standard and peak nights. Entry is open from 4:45pm with the last entry at 7:30pm.
The VIP package ticket includes a full day of zoo access, an evening meal and direct access to the lantern trail.