Edinburgh Zoo’s Night-Time Ocean: InLight Lanterns Make a Splash in Scotland

When the sun sets over Corstorphine Hill this winter, Edinburgh Zoo doesn’t go dark – it lights up. On 14 November 2025, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and InLight Festival Group officially opened Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns, a large-scale Chinese lantern festival that transforms the zoo into a glowing ocean journey for visitors from across the UK and beyond.

After a six-year pause, the lantern trail is back with a completely new concept and route, turning Scotland’s only Chinese lantern display into an immersive “under the sea” adventure.

A Long-Awaited Return to Edinburgh

The Giant Lanterns first illuminated Edinburgh Zoo in 2017 and quickly became a much-loved winter highlight. After several seasons away, 2025 marks their long-anticipated comeback, running on selected evenings from 14 November 2025 through 22 February 2026 and covering Christmas, New Year and key Scottish holidays.

For the reopening night, more than two thousand guests followed the lantern trail through the zoo, including senior leaders from RZSS and special guests from Scotland’s cultural and sports communities. The event once again positions Edinburgh as a must-visit winter destination – not only for wildlife lovers, but also for families seeking memorable night-time experiences.

Diving Under the Sea – Design and Craftsmanship

This year’s story takes visitors under the waves. More than 600 hand-crafted lanterns, some reaching up to 20 feet high, create a glowing seascape where coral reefs, whales, sea turtles and jellyfish come to life after dark.

InLight’s designers and master craftsmen spent months shaping the concept and on-site installation. Around forty large scenes are arranged to suggest a journey from shoreline shallows into the mysterious deep:

• shimmering shoals of fluorescent fish swimming above the paths
• a walk-through whale where visitors pass through an illuminated ribcage
• giant crustaceans guarding coral archways
• glowing jellyfish canopies that frame perfect photo moments

Each piece blends traditional Zigong lantern techniques with modern lighting, control systems and durable materials, ensuring both artistic impact and reliable operation throughout Scotland’s winter season.

For venues interested in similar bespoke concepts, this project connects naturally with InLight’s work in Customized Festivals & Lights and World-Class Festivals, where local stories and environments are turned into night-time attractions at scale.

An Immersive Visitor Experience

The Giant Lanterns trail is designed as a one-mile evening walk through the zoo, separate from daytime operations. As visitors move along the route, they encounter a sequence of distinct zones: playful coastal shallows, mysterious deep-sea trenches, legendary sea creatures and glowing “reef plazas” where people linger for photos and snacks.

In several areas, interactive elements respond to movement, sound or touch – encouraging families to slow down, explore and share their own content on social media. For attractions looking to enrich guest engagement, these ideas are an extension of the installations highlighted on InLight’s Interactive Elements page.

Visitors also encounter dynamic animatronic lanterns – sea creatures that sway, pulse or “swim” thanks to integrated motion systems. These kinetic features deepen immersion and connect directly with InLight’s portfolio of Animatronic Models used in zoo, garden and theme-park environments worldwide.

Along the route, guests can warm up with toasted marshmallows, mulled drinks and seasonal treats, turning the experience into a complete evening out rather than a quick walk-through.

A Partnership Focused on Impact

For RZSS and Edinburgh Zoo, the lantern trail is more than a beautiful light show – it is a strategic tool to:

• extend the visitor seasonwell beyond traditional peak months
• create a new night-time audienceincluding local families and tourists
• generate additional revenue to support wildlife conservation work

InLight supports these goals with unique full-service solutions, providing end-to-end festival design, production, logistics, on-site installation and dismantling, all aligned with local regulations and safety standards.

Globally, InLight now delivers over 50–80 festivals every year across more than 20 countries, transforming zoos, botanical gardens, parks and city centres into must-visit destinations that attract more than 1.5 million visitors annually.

Media Attention and Community Response

The return of Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns has already drawn attention from local and national media, positioning the event as one of Scotland’s standout winter experiences. Coverage has highlighted:

• the six-year gap since the last lantern trail
• the new underwater theme and completely redesigned route
• the scale of the installation, with hundreds of lanterns and towering structures
• the event’s role as Scotland’s only Chinese lantern display

Early visitor feedback emphasises the trail’s family-friendly atmosphere, the richness of photo opportunities and the strong sense of cultural exchange created by bringing traditional Chinese lantern craftsmanship into a Scottish landmark.

Bringing an Ocean of Light to Your Venue

The Edinburgh project is one of many examples of how InLight Festival Group collaborates with leading zoos and attractions worldwide to create signature winter and shoulder-season events. Each festival is tailored to the host’s goals – from boosting off-season attendance to launching entirely new night-time products.

If you’re exploring how to:

• extend opening hours into the evening,
• introduce a large-scale cultural or seasonal light festival, or
• refresh an existing lantern or light trail with new storytelling and technology,

InLight’s team can help you design a concept that aligns with your brand, site layout and operational realities.

You can discover what we do, explore more recent projects and highlights, or reach out directly via Contact to discuss how a custom lantern festival could transform your own venue into the next night-time destination.