China Lights “Nature’s Glow” Opens September 15 at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Tickets On Sale Starting August 8
MILWAUKEE, WI – August 8, 2023 – China Lights, the popular Chinese lantern festival, will be back at Milwaukee County’s Boerner Botanical Gardens from September 15-October 29, 2023 (closed on Mondays). The theme for the 2023 edition of China Lights is “Nature’s Glow.” Tickets go on sale August 8 at ChinaLights.org.
The China Lights lantern festival, presented by Tri-City Bank, is a partnership between Milwaukee County Parks and Tianyu Arts & Culture. The ‘Nature’s Glow” theme will shine a light on biodiversity of the ocean and beyond to jungle animals and insects. The lantern displays made their debut at the Natural History Museum of France. Milwaukee is the first stop in the United States, to view this show.
“I’m thrilled to help announce that the China Lights Festival will once again illuminate fall nights at Boerner Botanical Gardens. The festival is one of Milwaukee County’s most successful events, attracting over 100,000 visitors not only from the Milwaukee region, but the entire globe,” said Milwaukee County Executive, David Crowley. “I hope everyone can find time to visit the new lantern displays this year and enjoy a vibrant cultural celebration.”
China Lights features more than 40 larger-than-life themed lanterns, including:
• A giant 20 foot high Octopus that visitors can walk through
• An animated crab that “bubbles”
• A 20 foot long T-rex walk through tunnel
• A series of animated and illuminated bugs that shine lights on the biodiversity of the insect’s world
Additionally, the iconic Chinese Dragon will be back, but in a completely different form.
The lanterns, which are 99.9% new this year, will be displayed around a three-quarter mile walking route through Boerner Botanical Gardens. Visitors will also enjoy the various interactive light displays and elements which are embedded throughout the lantern displays and found throughout the gardens.
China Lights continues to celebrate Asian folk-culture, with live performances from professional entertainers on the We-Energies stage each night, and a variety of food and beverage selections, including the popular beer garden in the shrub mall area.
“China Lights has become a yearly favorite for the community and tourists alike! We know people are excited to see what the new show will bring to the Boerner Botanical Gardens this year,” said Guy Smith, Executive Director at the Milwaukee County Parks. “We’re proud to showcase an illuminating experience with brand new lanterns along the unique backdrop of the gorgeous Gardens here in Hales Corners.”
“We are thrilled to bring China Lights back to Boerner Botanical Garden for the sixth year and showcase these newly designed displays” said Huiyuan Liu, Event Manager of Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. “You can’t miss the 18 foot tall rabbit, which will be staged at the entrance of the atrium at Boerner Botanical Gardens, celebrating the year of the Rabbit, along with other larger-than-life displays of ocean creatures and jungle insects, completing the theme of Nature’s Glow. We are proud to continue the tradition of China Lights in Milwaukee and celebrate Asian culture and art with the community.”
Admission
Tickets will be sold online at ChinaLights.org for a specific date and time. There are three time slots for tickets each night – 5:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.. A limited number of walk-up tickets will be available at the box office at the festival entrance from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.. There will be a $5- $10 surcharge for walk-up tickets.
Online ticket prices are the following:
• General Admission (12 years+): $22 weekday, $25 weekend
• Child (3-11years): $14 weekday, $16 weekend
• Infant (under 3): free
• Early Entry* (any age): $25 weekday, $28 weekend
• Family Pack (2 general, 2 children): $62 weekday, $70 weekend
• Unlimited-visit individual Season Pass: $55
Walk-up ticket prices are following:
• General Admission (12years+): $35
• Child (3-11yrs): $20
*Family Pack, Season Pass and Early Entry are not available at the box office.
*Early Entry tickets include the following:
1) Entry at 5:00pm to beat the crowd.
2) Guided tour and China Lights 2023 souvenir
Parking
Paid Parking Lot
Paid parking is in the paved lot nearest the China Lights entrance. Tickets for this lot may be purchased at the door ONLY at a first come first serve basis. The same parking lot will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis to people with disabilities who have state-issued disabled parking or disabled Veteran parking license plates, or the state-issued disabled parking identification card.
Other Parking Lots
First-come, first-served, complimentary parking will be available at fully lighted parking lots within Whitnall Park. Complimentary shuttle service will serve the outer lots. Designated drop-off areas for authorized taxis/uber and motorcoaches will also be located near the China Lights entrance.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit ChinaLights.org.
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About Boerner Botanical Gardens
Thousands of plants bring the seasons to life at the Boerner Botanical Gardens, home to colorful and fragrant displays laid out in 12 formal gardens. The gardens, located just 15 minutes outside of Milwaukee in the Village of Hales Corners, opened in the 1950s as part of the Milwaukee County Parks system. Visit www.boernerbotanicalgardens.com.
About Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc
Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. is the largest Chinese lantern festival producer in North America and one of the first companies to bring authentic Chinese lantern traditions to the United States and Europe. The Chicago-based corporation is a subsidiary of Sichuan Tianyu Culture Communication Co., Ltd., headquartered in Zigong in the Sichuan Province of China. Tianyu strives for quality by focusing on three core components: conservation and natural beauty, turnkey festival operations, and interactive visitor experiences. Tianyu’s team of professionals have produced over 50 festivals in the United States, appearing in 21 states and 26 cities and welcoming over 3 million visitors. To learn more about Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., please visit https://tianyuculture.us/.
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