Last chance to visit the zoo’s glowing — and wildly popular — Wild Lights exhibit
When the Sedgwick County Zoo opened the Wild Lights exhibit at the start of October, its staff tried to manage its attendance expectations.
The traveling exhibit, put together by a company from China and featuring 250 glowing animal-shaped lanterns, was a new thing for Wichita: Nothing like it had been offered in the area before. The zoo’s administration wasn’t sure what the interest level would be locally, so they decided they’d be happy if 40,000 or 50,000 people came to see it.
Now, Wild Lights is almost over: Its last day will be Sunday, and then it will be packed up and sent to its next destination.
And as it turns out, though, Wichita was wild about Wild Lights. Almost double the number of people that the zoo expected — 93,000 — have visited the exhibit during the first nine weeks of its 10-week run, said Jennica King, the zoo’s director of communication.
“Obviously, it’s exciting for the zoo because it’s bringing people to the zoo,” said King, who predicted that attendance will top 100,000 by Sunday. “We’re excited that so many people in the community have heard about it and shared it on social media and loved it so much. It’s just a fun opportunity, and people are very excited to get out and see something new.”
Because of the success, the zoo has committed to bringing Wild Lights back in 2022, and it could even become an annual event, King said.
Wild Lights features many memorable pieces, including a long, narrow archway with a ceiling of glowing butterflies fluttering overhead, a tunnel filled with more than 250 glowing Chinese lanterns, and a 100-foot-long red dragon erected near the entrance to the North American exhibit that can be glimpsed from most areas in the zoo.
But a few pieces of the exhibit have been Wichita audience favorites, King said.
Visitors have loved the interactive parts of the exhibit, which include opportunities to hop on special pads near a giant display of glowing peonies at the entrance and make some of the flowers open as though they’re blooming. They’ve also flocked to a set of glowing, circular swings as well as to a set of giant glowing butterfly wings set up especially for photos.
There’s also always a crowd around a bubble-blowing, animated crab that’s set up across from the amphibians and reptiles building, King said, as well as by a row of cartoon animal-shaped lanterns that represent the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs.
The exhibit will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. though Sunday at the zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd. It requires a separate admission ticket, which is $17 for adults, $15 for children and members. A family four-pack is $60, $52 for members. Tickets are available in advance at scz.org/event/wild-lights or also can be purchased at the gate. King advises people to make reservations in advance as the zoo sells only 5,000 tickets each night
Those who make an evening of it can dine at the zoo’s restaurants, which will be open and serving their regular menus plus some special Asian-themed dishes. They’ll also be serving hot chocolate, and adult beverages will be available, including hot chocolate with a shot of Baileys Irish Cream.
Visitors should not, however, plan to visit the zoo in the afternoon and stay through the opening of the evening exhibit. The zoo clears everyone out between 5 and 6 p.m. to make the transition.
WILD LIGHTS EXHIBIT AT THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO
When: The exhibit’s final day is Sunday. Until then, it’s open from 6 to 9 p.m. each night.
Where: Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd.
Tickets: $17 for adults, $15 for children and members. A family four-pack is $60, $52 for members. Available at scz.org/event/wild-lights or at the gate.
This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 2:33 PM.
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