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The sixth installment of the China Lights lantern festival opens Sept. 15 at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Dr., in Hales Corners.
The centuries-old lantern tradition is meant to bring good luck and good harvests. The centerpiece of the Milwaukee event, which covers about nine acres, is 40 LED-illuminated lantern exhibits comprising more than 1,000 parts along a path that runs about three-quarters of a mile.
This year's exhibit – a partnership between Milwaukee County Parks and Tianyu Arts & Culture – is called "Natures Glow" and is almost entirely new.
It celebrates biodiversity in the ocean world with glowing mandarin fish, a giant 20-foot-tall octopus tunnel and an animated crab that bubbles, a 20-foot-long T-rex tunnel and more. While the beloved dragon is back, it is, festival organizers say, "in a completely different form."
China Lights runs through Oct. 29 and timed tickets go on sale online Tuesday, Aug. 8. A limited number of nightly tickets will be available at the box office, beginning at 5 p.m. daily.
In addition to the lanterns, there will be Chinese cultural displays and videos in the Boerner Garden House, food, beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase and nightly entertainment.
“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.”
Once the show is over, the lanterns will be disassembled and transported to the next city on the China Lights tour. Sorry, the lanterns are not for sale.
Regular entry begins at 5:30 p.m. and there are time slots at 7 and 8:30 p.m. There is an early entry slot at 5. Ticket-holders have a 90-minute window to enter the festival but there is no time limit once inside. The festival closes at 10 p.m.
“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.”
Weekday tickets are $22, $14 for kids 3-11 and family four-packs (two adults and two kids) are $62. Early entry is $25. An unlimited-entry season pass is $55.on
Friday and Saturday admission is $25, $16 for kids 3-11 and early entry is $28. Family four-packs are $70.
Early entry tickets included a China Lights souvenir and a 5:15 p.m. guided tour.
Walk-up tickets at the box office are $35 and $20 for children ages 3-11.
The first 1,000 tickets sold through Aug. 22 using the code EARLYLIGHTS will get $5 off general admission tickets.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
