Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience at Franklin Park Zoo

Lanterns at Franklin Park Zoo · Photo: Hodari K via Google

• When: Through Sept 30: Thu-Mon 6-10:30 pm; Oct 1-Nov 8: nightly 5-10:30 pm; last entry 9:30 pm
• Where: Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, MA 02121
• Cost: Timed tickets required, priced by date and time (plan-ahead pricing); under 2 free; $17 per ticket for Massachusetts EBT/WIC cardholders; groups of 20+ $20 each. Separate from daytime zoo admission.
• Organizer: Zoo New England

Get TicketsOfficial Event Page

Boston Lights is an evening lantern walk at Franklin Park Zoo, inside Franklin Park, run by Zoo New England. The 2026 season is already open and continues through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Through September 30 it runs Thursday to Monday, 6 to 10:30 pm; from October 1 to November 8 it is open every night, 5 to 10:30 pm, with last entry at 9:30 pm.

The displays are large lit lanterns made in the Chinese lantern-craft tradition, themed on wildlife and habitats. This year includes lanterns inspired by coastal South Africa, with penguins and great white sharks, big cats such as jaguars, lions, cheetahs and snow leopards, an underwater section of tropical fish and sea horses, and lantern tunnels nearly 100 feet long patterned on bamboo and peacock feathers.

Tickets

Every guest aged two and up needs a Boston Lights ticket, and it does not include daytime zoo admission. Online tickets use plan-ahead pricing by date and time, a four-pack discount is sold online, and VIP tickets work any night at any time. Gate tickets cost more and some nights sell out, so buy ahead. Sales are final and cannot be moved to another date, except VIP. Massachusetts EBT and WIC cardholders pay $17 a ticket for up to four tickets.

Weather closures

The zoo closes Boston Lights in severe weather and refunds ticket holders automatically, as it did for the nor'easter on September 27. Check the event page before you set out on a stormy evening.

Details checked against the organizer's official event page, zoonewengland.org/engage/boston-lights, on September 28, 2026. Dates and times can change; confirm with the organizer before you go.