Ring in the New Year at Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix

Light up your New Year’s Eve with a unique twist at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix. On Wednesday, December 31, the Zoo will operate its regular hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., then reopen from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for an evening filled with color, music and festive fun—perfect for families with younger children. Ring in 2026 during family-friendly countdowns at 7 and 8 p.m., enjoy a live DJ, and stroll the 3/4-mile festival path lined with dozens of larger-than-life, handcrafted lanterns.