Calgary Zoo prepares for Illuminasia lantern festival

A popular lantern festival is returning to the Calgary Zoo, this time with more lanterns and a new theme.

The festival, called Illuminasia, runs Thursday through Sunday nights from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. from Sept. 8 until Oct. 16.

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The showfeatures 288 lanterns, handmade in China and Canadaby dozens of workersand shipped to Calgary.

"This year we're showing the four seasons, so yourexperience will take you through spring, summer, fall and winter," said Roz Freeman, the Calgary Zoo's special events advisor.

"And within that you'll experience different sets of lanterns and then we have new activities and a brand new, custom-made entertainment show for our guests as well."

The tradition of lanterns goes back 800 years, she said.

"When they first started creating lanterns, they were created to provide an offering to Buddha. So if you wanted prosperity or love, anything like that, you would create a lantern and offer it to Buddha. Throughout the years, it's evolved into more of a festival and a celebration of life."

Last year the event saw 62,000 visitors and Freeman says the zoo is hoping to attract even more this fall.