Jeremy Goodman, the zoo's executive director, told The Providence Journal it was an idea he took from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo when he met its director, who had hosted a lantern festival. "He was telling me that they put one on and how phenomenal it’s been received and how it was a great revenue generator to help support their zoo and help support their mission." When Goodman saw the event for himself, he said he was "blown away," thinking, "This is something that we have to do at our zoo." Aside from the lanterns, attendees can expect Asian cuisine and performers from a variety of Asian countries. Goodman said he's still in the process of selecting artists, acknowledging that it's been “a lot more difficult with COVID."