Spend the night meandering through a spectacular immersive light experience at China Lights 2023 at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, now through Oct. 29.
China Lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens offers a perfectly colorful evening for families and date night. This year’s brand new theme, Nature’s Glow, features creatures big and small with delightful surprises around every turn at the garden’s nearly mile-long route. Visitors can walk this self-guided tour format exploring 42 different scenes, everything from ocean life under the sea, tunnels of flowers and forests as well as larger-than-life displays featuring animated crabs, baby birds, glowing mandarin fish and a giant octopus tunnel, just to name a few.
The China Lights route is numbered and has signs at each exhibit explaining the importance of each area, often providing insights into the Chinese culture. The colorful light displays also offer the perfect photo opportunities, and there is even an interactive playground for kids with a fun house, teeter-totters, swings and much more.
China Lights also features live stage entertainment with traditional acts like the Chinese dragon dance, foot juggling and face changing. Stage performances take place 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; there is a 9 p.m. show on Friday and Saturday.
Asian and Western cuisine is available for purchase from several Milwaukee area vendors including pizza, hot dogs, ramen, pot stickers, fried rice, Bavarian pretzels, crab rangoons, ice cream, bubble teas, corn on the cob, roasted nuts and much more. Beer, soda, water and seltzers are also available for purchase.
It is recommended to spend at least two hours exploring the grounds. China Lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens is open Tuesday to Sunday, now through Oct. 29, and advanced purchase is required.
For more information and tickets, visit chinalights.org.
9400 Boerner Dr.
Hales Corners, WI 53130