MILWAUKEE — In its final week, the China Lights Lantern Festival at Boerner Botanical Gardens reminds all ticket-holders that their tickets, with the end date of Oct. 22, are good through the Oct. 29 extension.
Due to overwhelming demand, ticket sales were suspended last week. Currently, a limited number of tickets are being made available each day, online only.Only ticket holders will be allowed entry. No on-siteticket sales are offered.
The closing weekend will offer giveaways and egg-roll-eating contests.
China Lights: The Magic Returns is a celebration of Asian culture featuring 50 larger-than-life sculptural lantern displays illuminating 10 acres of Milwaukee’s renowned Boerner Botanical Gardens, in Whitnall Park at 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, WI. The festival, presented by Tri City National Bank, also celebratesAsian culture with professional entertainment, a bustling marketplace, and a wide variety of food and beverage options. The event runs through Oct. 29, Tuesday through Sunday, from 5:30–10 p.m
Mobile Guide Giveaways
Friday through Sunday, the first 1,000 visitors each day will receive free mobile guides. The mobile guide, which requires a cell phone for use, provides background information on the displays. Guides may be purchased on-site for $5.
Egg-Roll-Eating Contest
Visitors who like to make eating a competition are invited to take part in the Zilli Hospitality Group Egg Roll Eating Contest on Friday and Saturday at 6:50 p.m. Signup begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Dragon Stage.
Lantern Displays
Of course, the lantern displays are the star of the show. Even before reaching the Welcome Gate, visitors have been impressed by the Porcelain Tower.
When inside the exhibition, visitors often find that each display is more magical than the last. Glowing flowers, swans, fish, and pandas emerge from garden spaces. Most dramatic are the 200-foot dragon and an accompanying phoenix with a long undulating tail.
To power one of the displays, youths can lend a hand—or, more precisely, their feet. In the Perennial Garden, a bicycle is connected to an elephant lantern, known by staff as “pedal the pachyderm.” Visitors can hop on the bike and pedal to illuminate the elephant.
Professional Cultural Entertainment
Kicking off the entertainment, the Illumination Parade will proceed through the audience at the Dragon Stage at 6:15 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, free fortune cookies will be handed out to the audience to celebrate the closing of the exhibition. The parade concludes in time for the first performance of the night.
Friday through Sunday, six shows will be presented by the professional performers from China. Performances begin at about 6:30 p.m. and are staggered between the Dragon and Panda stages. The night’s schedule is posted at the Welcome Gate.
The professional acrobats, martial artists, and musicians from China will offer a full range of entertainment. Some of the acrobatic feats, such as plate spinning or catching bowls on a unicycle require calm conditions. If winds are too strong, other professional acts will go on.
Cultural Displays
In the Garden House, cultural displays and videos can be viewed. Samples of traditional Asian clothing are shown in display cases, with additional small-sized clothing items available for guests to try on.
Food & Beverage
China Lights food vendors will offer a variety of Asian and Western food options from Kowloon Chicken to hot dogs.
Offering a cozy area with bistro tables, Ralph’s Wine & Sake bar serves beverages only—four styles of wine,Ozeki’s flavored and sparkling sake, craft sodas including Sprecher’s Lychee and Asian Pear, coffee, hot chocolate, and hot tea.
The Chinese Marketplace
In the colorful marketplace, Chinese artisans create traditional handicrafts. Some of the crafts being demonstrated include name painting, rice engraving, inner-bottle painting, and aluminum weaving. Name painting combines calligraphy with vivid imagery to create a work of art.
Admission/Fees
China Lights admission tickets are valid through Sunday.Tickets, available online only at chinalights.org, are $15 for adults (age 18–59) and $10 for seniors (age 60 and up) and children (age 5-17). Children under age 5 areadmitted free.
Free Parking & Shuttle Service
Free first-come, first-served parking is included with all tickets, and free shuttle service is provided from outer lots to the entrance.
China Lights is brought to Milwaukee through the partnership of the Milwaukee County Parks and The Park People of Milwaukee County, with support from Travel Wisconsin. The event is presented by Tri City National Bank and is sponsored by We Energies.
