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UPDATE: China Lights, original scheduled to close on Oct. 27, has been extended through Saturday, Nov. 2)
The seventh installment of the China Lights lantern festival opens Friday, Sept. 13 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 – celebrates the Year of the Dragon.
Among this year's features are a new dragon making its U.S. debut inside a 48-foot tall Palace of Heaven display, the LongLong dragon mascot, Zodiac lanterns, the flower tunnel and more.
China Lights runs through Nov. 2 and timed tickets go on sale online Thursday, Aug. 8.
It is closed on Mondays.
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 cannot wait to unveil this year’s lantern festival to the people of Milwaukee, celebrating the Year of the Dragon during China Lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens,” said Huiyuan Liu, Event Manager of Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.
“We are proud to continue this tradition, while highlighting 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 p.m. and there are time slots at 6:30 and 8 p.m. 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.
“I am thrilled to welcome the China Lights festival back to Boerner Botanical Gardens, showcasing the vibrant traditions of Asian culture in Milwaukee County, while offering residents and families new and immersive experiences,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
“Special events like the China Lights Festival helps generate revenue to support the maintenance and improvements at our Milwaukee County Parks, ensuring these treasured spaces remain beautiful and accessible for years to come. I invite everyone to join us for this spectacular celebration of culture, heritage and art in Milwaukee County.”
Weekday tickets are $23, $16 for kids 3-11 and family four-packs (two adults and two kids) are $65. An unlimited-entry season pass is $60.
Friday and Saturday admission is $28, $18 for kids 3-11 and family four-packs are $78. An unlimited-entry season pass is $60.
Walk-up tickets at the box office are $35 and $20 for children ages 3-11.
An early bird special – $5 off general admission tickets and 50 percent off VIP night tickets – runs through Aug. 22. Use the code EARLY DRAGON for G.A. tickets and VIP24 for night tickets at chinalights.org/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.
