Tonight’s Lanterns & Light event at Chester Zoo cancelled due to weather

Chester Zoo has announced the postponement of tonight’s Lanterns & Light event due to high winds forecast to hit the area.

In a statement released today, the zoo expressed its disappointment at having to cancel the event, which is a festive highlight for many visitors, but emphasised that safety remains the top priority.

“We’re gutted to say that with high winds now forecast to arrive later this afternoon, we’re unfortunately having to postpone this evening’s Lanterns & Light event,” the zoo said in its announcement.

The zoo confirmed that ticket holders for Thursday, 5 December, should have already received an email with detailed instructions, including options to reschedule for an alternative date.

Staff at Chester Zoo noted that the decision was not made lightly and expressed regret at disrupting visitors’ plans:

“We’ve been trying to do everything we can to keep tonight’s event on as we know how much you were looking forward to coming to enjoy a magical night at the zoo. We hope you understand though that making sure everyone stays safe has to be our top priority.”

While the zoo’s festive lights event has been affected, the statement reassured the public that animal care teams are closely monitoring the welfare of the zoo’s residents during the adverse weather conditions.

At present, Chester Zoo remains optimistic that the zoo will reopen as normal tomorrow and through the weekend, with the Lanterns & Light events expected to continue as planned.

However, visitors are advised to monitor their emails for updates on any potential changes.

For now, Chester Zoo is encouraging visitors to stay safe and wrap up warm amid the cold and windy weather.