Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is about to become an even brighter attraction.
From Aug. 14 until early October, the zoo hosts Wild Summer Lights, a Chinese lantern festival featuring more than 40 different displays in a mile-long lighted attraction. Chicago, Illinois-based Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. — a subsidiary of Sichuan Tianyu Culture Communication Co., Ltd., headquartered in Zigong, China — set up the lighted displays featured in 78 cities throughout the U.S., including the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri, Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio. The Powatami Zoo in South Bend, Indiana, hosted Zoo Luminate from March through June.
Mesker reached out about hosting back in December 2024 as Tianyu began expanding its reach into secondary and tertiary markets. According to Kristin Comer, the zoo’s director of institutional advancement, initial conversations included collecting data on yearly visitors — the zoo welcomed around 196,000 in 2024 — and a proposal from Tianyu. “The proposal really captured everything we wanted for this show. The team from Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. has been great to work with,” Comer says.
Next came a site visit by Tianyu, along with a theme for the lantern attraction that tells the zoo’s 97-year-old story and mission. It’s taken three weeks and nine semitrailers worth of materials to set up the festival. “Watching it go up during the last three weeks has been a lot of fun for us as well as guests,” Comer says.
Not only is Mesker a zoo focused on animal conservation, its conservation efforts also extend to its botanic garden filled with native plants and pollinators. Playing to that theme, a large glowing green archway with butterflies and caterpillars welcomes guests to the zoo entrance.
The attraction also features food trucks, acoustic music, and a walk-through, light-up tunnel with glowing floors. A giant glowing macaw records guest comments and repeats them back.
“There really hasn’t been a festival like this in Evansville,” Comer says, adding that even though school is back in session, “It’s a great way to extend our summer.”
As far as animal welfare is concerned, that is the zoo’s number one priority, above attractions. Executive Director Erik Beck says this festival should not disturb any of the animal residents. “They are used to seeing lots of people,” Beck says.
Comer shares that the zoo has worked with Tianyu to create a marketing plan involving billboards, radio, TV, social media, and Evansville Living ads. The festival is a revenue-sharing partnership between Mesker and Tianyu. The company has brought seven million visitors to its various attractions.
“We expect a huge turnout. I hope it reignites more excitement about the zoo,” Comer says.
“I’m so excited for this and can’t wait to get my family out there,” Danielle Crook, executive director of the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department, said during an Aug. 6 Board of Park Commissioners meeting where the festival was discussed.
Wild Summer Lights runs 5:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Oct. 5. While animal interactions will be limited during festival hours, guests can access Mesker’s gift shop and carousel. Purchase tickets — $18 for adults, $16 for children, and $13 for members — online or call the zoo for assistance.
