The Glow-fari Lantern Festival is being held from November 20th to January 17th at the Oakland Zoo to be a substitute for neighborhood holiday lights this season. The Glow-fari attraction showcases large lanterns of wildlife. Those who visit the attraction will be greeted by these alluring lanterns as they walk through a mile-long path inside the Oakland Zoo. 

As it is a unique, lasting display, the lanterns have received a great deal of attention during their creation. The lanterns are “ a hand-painted work of art which we would like to preserve not only for the entirety of the event but for years to come,” said the Oakland Zoo’s general inquiries line. 

The Glowfari replaced a similar attraction called Zoo lights, “a laser light attraction”, which had mediocre sales in the previous year “The event will feature larger light displays, longer hours, and more available dates than Zoolights,” said the Zoo’s website. The transformation to the Glowfari reveals the zoo’s attempt to adapt to Covid-19 and all the problems it has brought.

The Glowfari exhibit has relieved some financial loss from the zoo after the zoo had been losing two million dollars a month and came to be on the verge of permanent closure.

However Alameda County has announced a stay-at-home order which conflicts with the Glowfari’s schedule “ Things were going so well,” said Hansen. With Glowfari tickets nearly being sold out this season and Almeda’s stay at home order, the zoo will try to keep the Glow-fari going through after the shutdown to compensate those who can’t attend during the stay at home order.

The Glowfari is a stunning and unique addition to the Oakland Zoo and a pleasant and safe way to spend your night away during Covid-19.

“During this time of year, we have zoo lights, but this is amazing with people maintaining social distance, it went really well until the stay at home order,” said Joelle Carr.