Binghamton, N.Y. — A unique new event planned for the Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton puts the spotlight on the zoo’s conservation efforts in an illuminating way.
The Illumination for Conservation Lantern Festival kicks off Wednesday, August 3 at 8:00 p.m. and runs through Sunday, October 16, featuring more than 40 nature-inspired lantern sculptures transforming Ross Park Zoo into a beautiful, illuminated landscape at night. The purpose of the non-animal event is two-fold, highlighting the zoo’s conservation efforts, and allocating a portion of the proceeds from the event to benefit three different conservation partners including the American Wolf Foundation, Red Panda Network, and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
“They say a picture is worth a thousand words but neither a picture nor a thousand words capture the awe of these breathtaking lanterns,” according to Phillip Ginter, Executive Director of the Ross Park Zoo. “We’re excited to bring this event to our region as the exclusive partner with Tianyu Culture and look forward to adding to other community events taking place this summer and fall right here in Broome County.”
Once underway, the event schedule will be as follows: 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, August 3-September 4, and 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, September 7 through October 15. Last ticket entry is 10:00 p.m. Tickets for the event are now on sale and must be purchased in advance at the zoo’s website, rossparkzoo.charityproud.org/Events. Discounts are available for members and groups of 10 of more. VIP tickets are available and will include access to a hospitality tent and onsite parking.
Opened in 1875, Ross Park Zoo is America’s fifth oldest zoo. Home to a range of wildlife, the zoo is an active participant in the Association of Zoo and Aquariums Species Survival Plan Programs and is one of only 43 facilities in the United States partnering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect and restore red wolves in the wild. The zoo is part of the 65-acre Ross Park which includes a vintage wooden carousel, the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, and more than 30 acres of wooded trails.
