Schwerin Zoo Premieres “Wild Lights” Festival This Fall

(eap) From 9 October to 29 November 2026, Germany’s Zoo Schwerin will premiere its “Wild Lights” festival. The new event will feature numerous light-art installations in the shape of animals and plants, creating a special atmosphere throughout the zoo during the evening hours.

Divided into three themed sections, the light installations – some reaching heights of up to six metres – will illuminate several paths through the zoo. Each individual light exhibit has been specifically selected by Zoo Schwerin. Visitors can look forward to illuminated figures of wild animals and endangered species as well as artistically staged displays of birds and plants, brought to life using thousands of colourful LEDs. China Lights is the technical partner behind the Wild Lights festival.

© Foto: Zoo Schwerin “We are looking forward to this new format and hope that we can inspire many people with it during the darker months of the year,” comments Zoo Director Dr Tim Schikora. With regard to the zoo’s animals, he explains: “During special events or visits at unusual times, we often observe attentive and curious behaviour among our animals. They are accustomed to large numbers of zoo visitors and observe and assess what is happening around them as part of their natural, alert behaviour. Retreat areas and, of course, their indoor enclosures are available at all times, allowing each animal to decide for itself whether it wishes to keep its distance from the activity.” During the festival opening hours, which run until 9 pm – and until 9:30 pm on selected dates – most of the animals will already be in their night-time quarters.

Light-art installations are becoming an increasingly popular format for the autumn and winter opening periods of zoos and animal parks, providing attractive additional experiences designed to encourage visits during the darker months. ■