Boerner Botanical Gardens
Hales Corners,
Wisconsin
frequently asked questions
FAQs
Be prepared for your visit to China Lights by reading through our commonly asked questions.
Need additional help? Please contact us.
China Lights is an event that celebrates the art, skill, and beauty of traditional Chinese lantern festivals that have been celebrated across Asia for the last 400 years. This has been accomplished through an almost two-month long building process where about 40 exhibits, made of more than 1,000 components, are welded together, covered with colored fabric, and then hand painted. These displays are then illuminated with LED lighting to complete the amazing visual experience.
The show site is approximately 9 acres and has a 3/4 of a mile route that includes some steps and uneven surfaces. We recommend 2 hours to experience the entire exhibition.
In addition to the lighted displays there are multiple nightly performances of classic Chinese arts. Performance times are posted at the stages nightly. There are also displays and videos highlighting the Chinese culture in the Garden House. Asian and American food is available for purchase along with beer and non-alcoholic beverages in the Shrub Mall and the Perennial Mall.
China lights is being held at the Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Dr., Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The Botanical Gardens are located in the northeast corner of Whitnall Park and is about 3 minutes west of Southridge Mall in Greenfield, Wisconsin. See location details.
Tickets are available online and at the box office in front of the festival entrance when the event is open. A limited amount of discounted General Admission tickets are also available at Festival Foods stores in the Milwaukee and Madison areas. Limited number of hard General Admission tickets are also available at the arboretum atrium. Please check our ticket page for more information.
Yes! Ticket holders can change the date and time of their tickets up to 1 hour BEFORE the event starts. To move the date and time slot of your tickets, please follow instructions of this link here.
Tickets date and time cannot be changed AFTER The event starts.
Yes! If you would like to transfer the ownership of your ticket to another person, you can do so from your Universe account. Tickets can only be transferred individually. Once a ticket has been transferred, the action cannot be undone. Any order with a transferred ticket will become non-refundable. For more information on how to transfer your tickets, please check the link here. Season passes cannot be transferred under any condition.
We have 3 time slots on all event days.
- 5:00pm time slot ticket holders must enter between 5:00pm – 6:30pm.
- 6:30pm time slot ticket holders must enter between 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
- 8:00pm time slot ticket holders must enter between 8:00pm – 9:30pm.
Last entry to the festival is 9:30pm.
Once you enter the festival, you may stay until we close at 10:00pm.
We will have limited parking spaces near the front gate to the show available on a FREE first-come, first-served basis with state-issued disabled parking or disabled Veteran parking license plates, or the state-issued disabled parking identification card.
These limited spaces are located in the Staff Parking Lot and are accessed through the entry at 92nd Street and College Avenue. Additional parking will be offered on a limited basis, which may include grassy areas. This is also first-come, first-served.
The show does not have wheelchairs available for rent. The show site is approximately 3/4 of a mile and does include some steps and uneven surfaces. All displays can be viewed from garden paths. Multiple vantage points are available for some displays.
This is an outdoor event – rain, snow or shine. Please check current weather conditions for your visit and dress appropriately. In the unlikely event of a weather caused cancellation, patrons within the show grounds will be given rain checks for a subsequent show. **Severe weather ( i.e. lighting, flooding, etc.) will require us to close for safety**
All tickets include admission to view the displays, exhibits and nightly stage performance.
Yes! For groups of 20 or more (ages 11 and above), we offer a 20% discount on General Admission tickets. Group tickets are available as a ticket type, and the group rate is automatically applied. Group discounts are available online only.
Yes, we are seeking more Exit Guides. Each volunteer can earn a free ticket to the festival and an invitation to the staff-appreciation party. Positions must commit to two nights per week (3-4 hours a night) for the duration of the festival. Please reach out to marketing@tianyuculture.com.
China Lights is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm (closed on Mondays). The onsite box office is open from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, but it may close early if attendance exceeds the venue’s capacity limit. The Visitor and Education Center building will be closed at 4:00 p.m. daily during China Lights.
Guests may get near displays, but please do not touch, climb on, or go over rope lines around displays. We want to reduce wear and tear as much as possible.
There are 5 fully lit lots. Follow the signs, maps on tickets, and our parking staff to gain access to the parking areas. The close-up paved lot is $15/car on a first-come-first-serve basis. There are two free grass lots in walking distance to the festival entrance. There are shuttle services from outer lots (Lots #4 & #5) to the entrance.
*Wet and/or muddy conditions may close grass lots for a 2-3 day dry out procedure.
Regular admission rates to Boerner Botanical Gardens apply during daytime hours. See the hours here. The Gardens will close at 4:30 p.m. Both will reopen for China Lights at 5:00 p.m.
Persons presenting a ticket assume all risks incidental to the event. Tickets are all date and time specific. There is no refund due to rain or unused tickets. In the unlikely event of a weather caused cancellation, patrons on the grounds will be given rain checks for a subsequent show. No reciprocal garden admissions or Friends of Boerner Botanical Garden Memberships are valid during the China Lights special event.
Photography of the displays and performances is allowed, but please do not touch, climb on, or go over rope lines around displays. By attending the event, you permit to have your image and/or likeness to be reproduced for promotional and/or advertising purposes and/or by the media in print or digital formats.
These items are not allowed into China Lights: carry-in food or beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), illegal drugs and controlled substances, weapons or objects that could be used as weapons, outside brochures or pamphlets, pets/animals (except service animals), lawn chairs, skateboards or skates, kites, Frisbees, or other carry-ins as determined by management. Outside vendors are not allowed into China Lights or on Milwaukee County Parks property without a valid permit. China Lights Officials reserve the right to eject any person violating any law, rule, or policy.
Yes, China Lights will offer closeup paid parking. These will be limited (approximately 100 spots per night) in the paved lot closest to the front gate. The cost of this parking will be $15.00 and will only be sold onsite on a first-come-first-serve basis. Both cash and cards will be accepted.
This parking lot is accessed through the entry at 92nd Street and College Avenue.
The lost and found is operated in the office inside the Garden House during show hours. During daytime hours, the information stand inside the Boerner Botanical Garden atrium can assist with lost items.
For the enjoyment of all those attending this event, we do not allow animals except for registered service animals.
This event is a smoke-free event. No smoking of any kind will be allowed. This includes vaping.
Sorry, we do not offer refunds for unused tickets, but you may transfer or change the date and time of your tickets. Instructions are here.
The lanterns are taken apart by the Chinese artisans and technicians. Then they are carefully packed to move to the next show site to be rebuilt and refreshed. They are not available for purchase.
Absolutely! Guests may take photos, but please do not touch, climb on, or go over rope lines around displays. Due to the large volume of people, only monopods are allowed until 9:30 p.m. each night. After 9:30 p.m. you are welcome to use a tripod. Keep in mind the show closes at 10:00 p.m.
Bag Policy
To enhance park safety, China Lights is prohibiting multi-compartment bags and implementing a single-compartment bag policy. Single-compartment bags 9″x5″x2″ or smaller, clear single-compartment sized 12″x12’x’6″ or smaller, and one-gallon clear zip lock bags will be allowed. Exceptions will be made for diaper bags and medically necessary items (maximum size 16″x16″x8″).
The following items will be permitted to be brought into China Lights festival and might be subject to inspection at the entrance area:
- Single-compartment sized 9″x5″x2″ or smaller
- Single-compartment sized 12″x12’x’6″ or smaller
- One-gallon clear zip lock bags
- Strollers, Wheelchairs, Umbrellas
Single-compartment sized 12″x12’x’6″ or smaller
The following items are not allowed to be brought into China Lights festival and might be subject to inspection at the entrance area:
- All backpacks, regardless of size or style
- Any Multi-Compartment Bags
- Any Assault Weapon
- Laser Pointers
- Noise Makers (including whistles)
- Any outside food or drink (except for infant or medical use)
- Pets (except for registered service animals)