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Boerner Botanical Gardens — Christmas Events for Kids in Milwaukee

Boerner Botanical Gardens

4.7(3,011)4.7 out of 5 stars, 3011 reviews Milwaukee, WI

About Boerner Botanical Gardens

Boerner Botanical Gardens offers a unique Christmas experience with stunning light displays, diverse food options, and engaging performances, making it a memorable outing for families.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families looking for a festive outing during the holiday season.Parents wanting to introduce their children to cultural performances.All ages, with activities and shows suitable for both kids and adults.

Why families love it

  • Amazing light displays, particularly the China Lights event.
  • Free performances every hour that entertain both kids and adults.
  • Variety of food options including Asian cuisine and festive treats like kettle corn and mini donuts.
  • Clean and well-maintained gardens.
  • Interactive activities for children, including a puzzle for prizes.
  • Seating areas available for food consumption.

Insider tips

  • Arrive early to secure parking and avoid long walks.
  • Consider purchasing tickets online to save money ($7 per person).
  • Visit once during the day and again at night to fully appreciate the lights.

Good to know before you go

  • Visiting during peak hours when parking is scarce.
  • Relying solely on the website for event details; check other sources.
  • Limited parking availability, especially during busy nights.
  • Website difficulties in finding event details and ticket purchasing.
Crowds
Can get busy during evening events, especially weekends.
Value
Entry fee is worth it for the experience, especially with online discounts. Expect to pay around $7 less per person if tickets are bought online.
Food
Food from various stalls is available, but outside food may not be allowed.
Accessibility
Paths include boardwalk, gravel, and woodchip, which may not be suitable for all mobility devices.
Safety
Clean bathrooms noted, contributing to overall safety and comfort.

What parents say

Dylan Collier
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Absolutely wonderful experience. The gardens were clean and well maintained. The bathrooms were clean. A decent selection of food vendors, although could have been a bit more, only 5 or 6 food stalls. The lights were amazing. There is a free performance every hour or so that was very entertaining. Free parking, but it can be a bit of a walk if you get there later, especially on a busy night."

7 months ago

Alyssa Benavides-Berg
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"One of mine and my husband's new tradition for ourselves is to go when they have the China Light displays in October. This was our second year going and we had an absolute blast! The creativity, the beauty, the show and the food! Our first time we spent most of our time checking out the displays and just walking around. This year we chose to indulge in the food. We ate only the Asian options to keep it close to what we were there for. Service was from all the stalls we went to were great! We even did the puzzle you had to figure out to get a prize. We walk around twice, once without the lights"

6 months ago

Michael Gerardo
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Fantastic Show. I came here for the special China Lights. Worth the entry fee, but I'd recommend buying your ticket online to save about $7 per person. Parking is very limited. Arrive early or you'll be waiting a long time. I imagine it takes a lot of hard work to set this show up, very well done."

6 months ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.