2019 Winter Wonders: Your Guide

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Winter Wonders, a 1.4-mile drive-through holiday light show featuring more than 80 displays set in the area surrounding the Boerner Botanical Gardens, is coming to Whitnall Park, and the Root River Parkway from Nov. 29 – Jan. 1.

Here is your guide to this year's festival including how to get tickets, prices, dates and times and the route you'll be taking.

Features

Winter Wonders will be the first drive-through holiday light show to integrate multiple display techniques from around the world including 2D and 3D displays, animated displays, and theatrical lighting giving washes of color to the trees of the Arboretum. All displays use LED lighting.

Music

Visitors will be advised where to tune their radios for continuous holiday music as they drive along the route.

Displays

In addition to traditional lighted trees, snowflakes, and snowmen, the drive-through route includes displays representing the Middle East (lighted palm trees), Europe (candy canes and Moravian Stars), North America (3 simply-decorated fir trees similar to the lonely, unlikely tree chosen by Charlie Brown & Linus of Peanuts fame), as well as a display of Santas of the World.

Route

Cars will enter at Whitnall Park Golf Course, 6751 S. 92nd St., to form a line and listen to a narrated overview before the show.

Cars will follow a 1.4 mile drive-through route in the area surrounding Boerner Botanical Gardens, Whitnall Park, and the Root River Parkway.

Food

Popcorn, hot apple cider, and other snacks and beverages will be available for purchase before the entrance to the display route.

Dates

Nov. 29 through Jan. 1; Closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Times

5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The line opens at 4:30 p.m. Last entry at 9:30 p.m.

Included with Admission
A holiday gift bag (containing an ice scraper, a voucher for pearl earrings, coupons and more), instructions for a free, personalized letter emailed from Santa, and sponsor promotions such as Wimmer Wednesdays where everyone in the car receives “starlight glasses.”

Tickets

Available at WinterWonders.org, Parks Administration (9480 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa), and Boerner Botanical Gardens Education & Visitor Center (9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners) Tickets are valid any night of the regular 2019 schedule.

Prices

$25: Carload – up to 7 occupants (Cars, Mini Vans, Pickups, SUVs)

$50: Large Vans & Limos

$100: Mini Bus – from 12-25 occupants, or $200