It’s that time of year again when families flock to one of the North West’s most popular venues to see the amazing Lanterns event at Chester Zoo. Unlike in the the daytime, the dark evenings provide an opportunity for an alternative, magical experience. Although the real animals may be sleeping, incredible illuminated puppet animals inhabit a carefully devised route around the zoo.
Theatrical creatives Wild Rumpus are behind the extraordinary event which inspires both awe and a deep respect for the animal kingdom. After the previous year’s successful collaboration, the team at Glow Inflatables were commissioned to provide four beautiful, over-sized snow leopards and five lotus flowers for the event.
The snow leopards can be found guarding a snowy mountain at the end of a light tunnel. They were carefully designed to reflect typical poses that may be seen in the wild and for ultimate realism, the material was printed with an authentic photographic texture. LED lighting was added to bring these stunning creatures to glorious life as the darkness descends.
In a Japanese inspired garden, dragonflies are expertly operated by puppeteers who fly them around the giant inflatable lotus flowers supplied by Glow, occasionally allowing them to settle.
In a recent review, the Manchester Evening News stated that the Lanterns was ‘a brilliant evening out’ and ‘surprisingly moving’. The dedicated team at Glow Inflatables was happy to be a part of this magnificent annual event and can always be relied upon to provide illuminated custom inflatables of the highest quality.