Garden of Lights: New illuminated evening exhibit opens in Prague Zoo

A new illuminated exhibition is enchanting visitors at Prague Zoo as of this weekend. Through February 2025, the Garden of Lights exhibit offers a unique experience, highlighting the beauty of African wildlife through art.

The display is located in the lower section of the zoo and features more than 100 illuminated lanterns shaped like various African animals and plants. This marks the first time a light-themed installation of this scale has been introduced in a Czech zoo.

The exhibit includes sculptures representing 33 different animal species, from towering elephants to playful lemurs. Notable attractions include light installations depicting gorillas and pangolins, both of which are crucial to the zoo's conservation efforts.

According to zoo representatives, the aim of this project is to attract visitors during the off-peak winter season and to promote awareness of endangered species through engaging visual displays.

In addition to the animal lanterns, the exhibit also features a 70-meter-long light tunnel and interactive projections. These features are designed to create an immersive experience, encouraging visitors to explore and engage with the exhibit, Zoo spokesperson Filip Mašek told reporters ahead of the exhibit's opening on Friday evening.

Garden of Lights has organized similar displays in New York City as well as Kraków, Warsaw, and Wrocław in neighboring Poland. These types of exhibitions have proven successful in enhancing visitor engagement in winter months when zoo attendance typically decreases.

Entrance to the exhibit requires a separate ticket, which can be purchased both online and at the zoo. A single-entry ticket runs CZK 280 for adults and CZK 240 for children up to 12 years old, with free entry for children under 100 cm tall. Passes for unlimited entry are also available.

Through Oct. 31, the exhibit is open in the evening hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Following this initial week, the exhibit will open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Through Feb. 16, 2025, the exhibit will be open daily with the exception of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Zoo officials have taken precautions to ensure the exhibit does not disturb the resident animals. According to Mašek, a series of tests were conducted to minimize any potential stress on the animals.

The light installation was gradually introduced to the environment, allowing the animals to acclimate before the public opening. This careful planning aims to create a balance between providing a captivating experience for visitors while safeguarding the well-being of the animals.

In addition to the light displays, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with an interactive quiz via a mobile app. This feature will lead them through the exhibit while providing educational content about the species featured. The exhibit also features an illuminated light tunnel for visitors to walk through.

The Garden of Lights exhibit at Prague Zoo follows a growing trend in light installations in Prague. In addition to the popular annual Signal Festival, other seasonal light exhibits include Winter Wonderland in Letňany and Lumina Park in Prague 6, which are both currently open, and Světla vyprávějí at Žluté lázně, which will reopen on Nov. 1.