Zoo Night Trail

A regional zoo in Northern Europe turned its quietest season into its most profitable — without building a single permanent structure. Here is the full story, from brief to switch-on.

Zoo night trail panorama with the African savannah animal kingdom lantern scene and waterfall
Location
Northern Europe
Venue Type
Regional Zoo
Collection
Animal Lanterns
Season
Winter 2025/26
Install Time
18 days
Challenge

Off-season underperformance

The zoo's winter attendance was less than 30% of summer peak. The team needed a night attraction that would draw families after dark, without heavy fixed infrastructure or a large capital budget.

Solution

A walkable lantern trail

We delivered a 1.2 km trail of large-scale animal lantern scenes — species matched to the zoo's collection, engineered for winter weather and crowd flow, installed and tested in 18 days.

Outcome

A recurring seasonal anchor

Night attendance rose 40% above forecast, average dwell time reached 3.5 hours, and the trail was renewed for a second season. Visitor photos became the zoo's most effective marketing.

01Results

Measured impact

+40%
Night Attendance
3.5h
Avg. Dwell Time
4.4/5
Visitor Rating
+20%
F&B Revenue
18 days
Install Time

Data source: confidential client report, Winter 2025/26 — published with permission

02Gallery

From the trail

03Tech Specs

Technical specifications

Project Spec

Zoo Night Trail

Trail Length1.2 km walkable path
Number of Scenes24 animal lantern scenes + 1 entrance arch
Largest Figure6 m giraffe lantern
Frame MaterialGalvanised Q235 steel, anti-rust treated
FabricFire-retardant silk, UV-stable, IP65-rated
Lighting24V low-voltage LED, warm white + accent RGB
Power Distribution6 distributed junction boxes, RCD-protected
Wind Rating8 Beaufort, ground-anchored base plates
Install Team4 technicians, 18 days on-site
Shipping3 × 40ft containers, DDP to destination port

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