Photos: Bright Nights gets wild at Four Mile Historic Park

A lantern shaped like a great white shark opens its illuminated jaws at Four Mile Historic Park, inviting visitors to step inside for a photo. Nearby, glowing seahorse lanterns appear to float along the path and oversized butterflies turn a walkway into one of Bright Nights’ most colorful attractions.

Bright Nights at Four Mile returns for its fourth year from Aug. 8 through Nov. 8, filling portions of the twelve-acre park with handcrafted lantern displays created in partnership with Tianyu Arts and Culture. The route carries visitors through loosely themed environments populated by African wildlife, ocean creatures, oversized flowers and insects.

“We’re looking forward to continuing Denver’s original lantern festival by popular demand,” says Allie Matsuo, Four Mile’s manager of programs and education. “Giant versions of African animals, insects, flowers and ocean creatures come to life when the sun goes down this summer at Four Mile, and brand-new add-on experiences for our guests and members enhance the magic of Bright Nights.”

The festival is smaller than the Denver Zoo’s comparable event, Glowing Wild, and the lanterns are not evenly distributed throughout the grounds. The first safari section feels comparatively sparse, whereas the underwater and floral displays offer a more diverse and dense array of sights.

With expectations properly calibrated, Bright Nights remains a fun excuse to wander outside after the day’s worst heat has passed and snap a photo (or 20) for your social media.

Westword visited the festival’s July 31 preview; keep reading for photos from the glowing grounds.

Bright Nights, Wednesdays through Sundays, 7 to 11 p.m., Aug. 8 through Nov. 8 at Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. Tickets range from $15 to $30, with food and drinks available for purchase and optional silent-disco and immersive puzzle experiences offered for an additional fee.