Visa denials lead Nashville Zoo to cancel annual festival

State of play: The InLight Festival Group, which has organized festivals in more than a dozen countries, brought crews in from China for previous lantern displays.

• When the artisans were denied visas this year, the zoo "was unable to find a solution that would allow Zoolumination to continue this year."

The big picture: The denials come as the Trump administration has been working to crack down on visas for skilled workers.

• A similar lantern festival in Des Moines, Iowa was canceled earlier this year after Chinese workers were refused visas.

What's next: Instead, the zoo will host a new holiday light show featuring glowing wildlife, holiday displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree.

• The new Glow Wild event will run Nov. 13-Jan. 3. Tickets are available online.