Spring Lantern Magic at the Zoo

For five whole weeks from the middle of March until the third weekend in April, the public is invited to enjoy an atmospheric evening lantern parade in the eastern part of the Zoo (to the right of the circus when looking from the Zoo Boulevard). In addition to a variety of lantern art and compositions, there will be animal attractions, including a pets zone and a Shark Tank, which will also be open in the evening. And the Vurstli zone will also be open, with the 1908 Schäftner carousel, the dwarf carousel, several other nostalgic carousels and the miniature railway.

What can visitors expect at the Spring Lantern Magic?

With the arrival of spring, the evenings are getting warmer and the weather is getting nicer. For these spring evenings, we offer a cosy evening programme with the Spring Lantern Magic, where the lanterns themselves are of course the main attraction.

Hundreds of lantern artworks, arranged into compositions in several locations, are used by the artists to display a variety of themes. Some of the lanterns are "creatures of light", representing animals, plants, or mythological creatures from fairy tales. The lampion figures include tigers, butterflies, birds and reptiles, giant pandas, gorillas, pouched wolves representing animals that have become extinct by human activity, an archipelago of animals, a polar bear representing an entire Arctic landscape, and fish, rays and jellyfish representing marine life.

 Some of the lanterns are reminiscent of Chinese civilisation, all the more so because the art of lanterns itself is of Chinese origin. The works on display here come from China, from the Sichuan province, and are the work of Chinese lantern artists. The two largest lanterns, each a good ten metres tall, depict a dragon, an important symbol in Chinese culture, and a topical one now, as the lunar new year of 10 February marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon in the traditional Chinese calendar. In addition, the lanterns also include figures of the first Chinese emperor, Qin-Shi Huangdi (Qin-Shi Huangdi), which is all the more interesting because these world-famous terracotta sculptures are known as monochrome, although they were originally painted and coloured, as are the lantern figures depicting them.

However, there are quite a few Chinese artists' lanterns that represent the world of other cultures. Examples include the ancient Egyptian composition of pyramids and sphinxes, the Eastern Slavic figures of Father Frost (Gyed Moroz) and Snowflake (Snegurochka), or Vincent van Gogh's Vase with Twelve Sunflowers, a painting using the tools of lantern art.

In addition to the lanterns, there are also animal attractions for visitors to the lantern fair. In this area of the zoo, you can also see the pets, including the residents of the Majorság and the surrounding pens. Many of them have recently had babies, so you can also see baby goats and baby lambs. In the same area you will find the Shark School, which offers a lantern attraction every evening until 21:30, with a variety of sharks, rays, swordfish and other interesting marine animals.

The Vurstli Zone games are also open every evening during the Spring Lantern Magic. For example, you can ride on the Schäftner carousel with a wooden horse-drawn carousel, which has been in operation since 1908, the two nostalgic carousels next door, the dwarf carousel and even the little train, which is also popular with children. During the Spring Lantern Magic, we also offer gastronomic experiences. Near the Wildlife Rescue Centre, bread scones, strudel and other delicacies will complete the evening's programme.

Opening hours

The Spring Lantern Magic at the Zoo will be open from 18 March (Monday) to 21 April (Sunday) 2024, in the evenings. The gates open every evening at 6pm during March (18 to 31 March) and at 6.30pm during April. The gates close at 22:00 each evening, until then you must leave the area. On-site daily ticket sales are available until 21.00 each evening, with the Shark Tank and Vurstli zones closing at 21.30. We therefore advise our visitors to arrive at the venue by 9pm at the latest.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online, via the Zoo's online ticketing platform, or from the on-site ticket vending machine at the kiosk (which accepts credit cards, SZÉP cards and cash).

Tickets can be purchased from 14 March 2024. Tickets can be used on any evening during the opening hours of the lampion marquee until 21 April at the latest.

Zoo discounts and zoo passes are not valid for this programme.

The programme will also be held in case of rain. In the event of extreme weather conditions or a permanent power cut, we will close the exhibition and will inform you of this via our official online platform by 16:00.

Tickets purchased will not be refundable.

Location

The location of the Spring Lantern Magic is the eastern end of the zoo area, roughly from the camel run to the historic carousel and the walkways in front of the outdoor walkways of the Biodome. This part of the zoo is the area to the right of the circus, towards Hermina Road, when viewed from the Zoo Boulevard. Accordingly, entry is not through the main entrance of the Zoo, but through the gate next to the monumental carousel, which is located on the right side of the zoo. 14.

The most convenient way to reach the site by public transport is to take trolleybus 72 (Széchenyi Fürdő stop), metro M1 (Széchenyi Fürdő stop) or tram 1 (Kacsóh Pongrác út stop). For more information on using public transport, please visit the website of the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK).

For those arriving by car, we recommend to use the Parking Zoona at the end of Állatkerti körút towards Hermina út, or the parking lots in the surrounding public areas (pay zone!). More information about parking can be found here.

More useful information

• Arrive in comfortable shoes and clothing for the weather conditions! The exhibition is outdoors!
• The attractions of the Vurstli zone will be open during this period.
• We will provide you with toilets and a baby-momma room with changing facilities in the Courtyard of Crafts in the Parasztudvar.
• The entire event area is barrier-free.
• Dogs are not allowed in the Zoo area.
• Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Some installations will use moving light effects and background music.
• For your safety, please follow the visitor routes and take care to keep the lanterns intact.
• Also in the Crafts Courtyard, near the Wildlife Rescue Center, there will be a snack bar serving breadsticks, strudel and other goodies.