Dragons, unicorns and holiday classics join the animals at the Chattanooga Zoo, as the 2025 Asian Lantern Festival kicks off.

Nearly 3,000 people attended the festival's opening weekend, and between 25,000 and 30,000 are expected throughout the merry season.

"We bring a totally new collection of lanterns to the festival every year, so it’s always a completely unique experience," said Jake Cash, the zoo's director of marketing and communications.

Despite initial concerns, tariffs haven't majorly impacted the zoo's attraction.

In Fort Oglethorpe, however, tariffs resulted in the cancellation of a planned NoogaLights show . Owner John Haustein said the cost for lights nearly doubled this year, forcing him to choose between remaining open or passing the extra cost on to customers.

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