Nashville Zoo cancels annual ‘Zoolumination’ attraction, says Chinese lantern artisans’ visas denied

The Nashville Zoo is cancelling its annual Zoolumination attraction due to visa issues with its Chinese event partner.

In recent years, Zoolumination has brought a team of artisans from China to craft and display hundreds of lanterns around the Zoo’s paths. For Zoo-goers, it’s lit up the colder, darker months of the year with huge, vibrant displays of not just animals but also dragons, dinosaurs and even cowboy boots. The Zoo calls it “the largest lantern festival in the United States.”

But this year, visa applications for the Chinese team were denied, the Zoo says. That comes as the Trump administration has targeted immigrants and pushed to revoke a record number of visas.

Daniel Potter WPLN News

Zoo-goers take in a large Zoolumination display in Nashville in 2023.

In place of Zoolumination, the Zoo says it will host a holiday light show called “Glow Wild” from mid-November through early 2027.