FESTIVALS

New 'Winter Wonders' route of lighted holiday displays begins Nov. 29 at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Encouraged by the remarkable attendance at "China Lights" shows, Milwaukee County Parks will present "Winter Wonders," a drive-through holiday lights display in the area around Boerner Botanical Gardens, from Nov. 29 through Jan. 1, officials announced Thursday.

More than 80 displays will be shown on a 1.4-mile route in the Whitnall Park area and along the Root River Parkway. Show hours will be 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Unlike the walk-through "China Lights" experience, "Winter Wonders" will be viewed entirely from a vehicle. Here's how it will work:

Cars will enter at Whitnall Park Golf Course, 6751 S. 92nd St. While in line, they'll tune to a special radio frequency for a narrated overview of the show. The line opens at 4:30 p.m. daily.
Vehicles will follow a 1.4-mile route around the gardens and Whitnall Park and along the Root River Parkway. If they like, they can tune their radios to coordinated holiday music as they drive.
The displays, all using LED lights, will include trees, snowflakes and snowpeople, as well as lighted palm trees (representing the Middle East), candy canes and Moravian stars, Santas and Charlie Brown-type trees.
People and pets must remain in cars on the route.
Portable toilets will be available before the show entrance and at a designated mid-point pullout. Popcorn, hot apple cider and other snacks will be on sale before the entrance.

Tickets are $25 for a carload of up to seven occupants, $50 for large vans and limos. They're available through WinterWonders.org and at the Boerner visitor center, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners.

Group rates of $100 for minibuses of 12 to 25 people and $200 for commercial bus tours are available. Call (414) 525-5602.

The show will be closed on Dec. 24 and 31.

"China Lights" has drawn more than 100,000 visitors annually during its three previous years. With that success in mind, Boerner director Shirley Walczak asked Festival Pro LLC producer Ralph Garrity to think about a winter show along the pastoral roadways around the gardens.

They gathered ideas from winter displays around the country in pulling this one together.

Cinderella's horse and carriage are among the lighted displays at Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

Milwaukee County Parks executive director Guy Smith said he thinks "Winter Wonder" could draw up to 27,000 carloads of visitors.

TriCity National Bank is the presenting sponsor of both "Winter Wonders" and "China Lights."

Park officials also announced a one-week extension of "China Lights" through Oct. 27. Anyone who attends "China Lights" during the remaining days can purchase "Winter Wonders" tickets onsite at a $5 discount.

Contact Jim Higgins at jim.higgins@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jhiggy.