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Four of Chester Zoo’s iconic lantern puppets confirmed to be at the Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza at Chester Racecourse!

Published on 20 October 2022

Visitors to the Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza at Chester Racecourse on Saturday 5th November are set to be treated to a sneak peek at some of Chester Zoo’s famous lantern puppets.

2022 marks the 11th year that The Lanterns has taken place at Chester Zoo and, for the first time in their history, 4 of their popular illuminated puppets will be at the world’s oldest racecourse, offering a special glimpse of what’s in store at the zoo this winter. Chester Zoo’s regal lion, friendly elephant and two life-size wolves will be lighting up various spots of Chester Racecourse after dark.

The Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza is a not-for-profit event run by Chester Racecourse and in partnership with the Lord Mayor of Cheshire West & Chester Council, to raise money for local charities. As well as these incredible feats of puppetry, attendees will also get to see a wealth of roaming performers in LED costumes, a children’s fireworks display and an 18-minute showcase fireworks display set to a curated playlist for added spectacle. There will also be a full fairground on-site next to The White Horse pub for attendees to visit.

Chester Race Company Chief Executive, Louise Stewart said “All of the team here are thrilled that four of the zoo’s lantern puppets will be coming to the racecourse. They’ve become an integral and much-loved attraction in the local community, as has our charity fireworks display each year. Seeing these two projects join forces is something very special and we’re delighted to be a part of it.”

The Lord Mayor’s Firework’s Extravaganza at Chester Racecourse is pitched to be one of the best large displays in the county with an unrivalled entertainment offering. General admission tickets are available for £10 per person and VIP tickets for £25 per person. These do not include a booking fee of 55p per ticket. Children aged 4 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult. Customers can visit chester-races.com to book tickets. Alternatively, tickets can be booked over the phone by calling the racecourse Box Office on 01244 304610.

The Lanterns ‘Tales From Around the World’ at Chester Zoo runs on selected dates from Friday 11 November until Friday 23 December. Prices start at £12 for children and £15 for adults with funds raised by the event supporting the zoo’s crucial charitable mission of preventing extinction. The wintertime celebration has received widespread public acclaim with organisers promising this year’s will be more magical than ever before, following a new exciting route and incorporating a host of new character puppets and experiences. Tickets are now available from chesterzoo.org.

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