Client at a Glance
Project Detail | Description |
|---|---|
Client | Jardin d'Acclimatation (Paris, France) |
Industry | Amusement Park / Cultural Venue |
Event Type | Seasonal Paid Nighttime Exhibition (Festival des Lanternes) |
Project Scale | 6 hectares, 24 stations, 2,000+ lanterns, ~100 dinosaurs (40 species) |
Duration | November 29, 2024 – March 2, 2025 (94 days) |
Operating Hours | 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM daily; closed Mondays/Tuesdays outside school holidays |
Visitor Reference | 165,000 visitors for the 2023 edition of the same festival at the same venue |
Jardin d'Acclimatation is a 6-hectare amusement park in Paris, welcoming over a million visitors annually. For the 2024 winter season, LanternsArt was commissioned to design, fabricate, and install the "Le Bal des Dinosaures" (Dinosaur Ball) — transforming the park into a 24-station Mesozoic night walk. The scale was immense: 2,000+ illuminated pieces, including roughly 100 life-sized dinosaurs spanning 40 species.
The Challenge: Scale, Science, and Logistics
The project required a major thematic shift from the park's 2023 mythological dragon theme. To ensure scientific accuracy, the dinosaur designs had to be reviewed in collaboration with paleontologists from the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Forty distinct species needed to be correctly proportioned and structurally sound as light installations.
The geographic constraint was equally demanding. All lanterns were prefabricated in Zigong, China, and shipped to Paris via ocean freight. The installation window at the venue was tight, requiring our team to coordinate with local heavy machinery while navigating the park's historic, narrow pathways without disrupting existing facilities, such as the adjacent Fondation Louis Vuitton.
The Solution: Engineering a Mesozoic Park
Design Logic: Day and Night Narratives
To make the most of the 6-hectare venue, we designed a pathway-based narrative. During the day, the installations present intricate hand-painted fabric textures and realistic dinosaur skins. At night, internal LEDs illuminate them, creating a vibrant, glowing prehistoric world. The mix of massive sauropods and fierce theropods was carefully spaced to maintain visual rhythm across the 24 stations.
Engineering and On-Site Assembly
As the design, fabrication, and installation partner, LanternsArt managed the full delivery chain. Large dinosaur modules were structurally split into compact units to fit inside shipping containers. Upon arrival, our installation team assembled them on-site.
Navigating the park's pathways required a blend of heavy lifting and manual precision. For example, the massive T-Rex head module had to be carefully wheeled past the Fondation Louis Vuitton by hand before being hoisted into position. At the main entrance, heavy cranes and elevated work platforms (MEWPs) were used to rig and secure the giant T-Rex structure above the gate.
These installations are prime examples of Commercial Light Installations, merging cultural storytelling with robust engineering. The structural integrity and waterproof electrical design (IP rating compliance) allowed them to function reliably as Themed Light Installations in outdoor winter conditions.
Measurable Results
The event successfully operated for 94 days as a premium ticketed attraction (adults €18, children €12). The sheer production scale demanded 59,000 hours of labor from 180 artisans and technicians.
The exhibition generated extensive media coverage from international outlets, including Reuters, Les Echos, France 3, and Le Parisien. Drawing from the venue's baseline of 165,000 visitors for the 2023 edition, the 2024 dinosaur exhibition successfully extended the park's winter night economy, becoming a highly shareable social media event for Parisians and tourists.
Client Feedback
Marc-Antoine Jamet, President and CEO of Jardin d'Acclimatation, described the vision behind the event:
"On veut être une fabrique de souvenirs, on veut que les enfants viennent avec leurs parents et qu'ils se souviennent de ce moment."
(We want to be a memory factory; we want children to come with their parents and remember this moment.)
He also acknowledged the craftsmanship behind the scenes:
"Les meilleurs artisans, les meilleurs fabricants de lanternes, sont en Chine dans le Sichuan."
(The best artisans, the best lantern makers, are in China in Sichuan.)
(Source: Public statements by Marc-Antoine Jamet, President and CEO of Jardin d'Acclimatation)
Behind the Scenes: The Paris Snowstorm
A detail rarely captured in the final event photos is the weather during installation. Midway through the assembly phase, Paris experienced a sudden, heavy snowfall.
Moving large dinosaur frames and giant illuminated plants through the snow became a physical challenge. However, our team continued the assembly work without delay. More importantly, the completed dinosaur installations were buried under the snow but suffered zero structural damage. The steel framing, silk covering, and electrical systems held up perfectly. Instead of causing a crisis, the snow created an unexpected, magical atmosphere — transforming the glowing dinosaurs into an ethereal winter landscape.
Let's Discuss a Similar Solution for Your Event
Whether you are planning a dinosaur park, a cultural festival, or a seasonal night walk, custom light art can transform your venue. Themed Light Installations like these are fully customizable in scale, species, and narrative flow. Contact us to see how we can turn your concept into a reality.
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