13th Annual WPS Garden of Lights to kick-off November 27th

Date Posted: 2009-11-11


For Immediate Release 
November 13th, 2009

Green Bay, Wis. – Green Bay Botanical Garden is busily preparing for the opening of the 13th Annual WPS Garden of Lights on Friday, November 27th at 5 pm.  NEW this year, a 60’ long walk-through caterpillar that stands 7’ tall and 7’ wide and boasts 20,000 energy-saving LED lights.  Also see the area’s largest tree, a five-story, 45’ metal frame tree sponsored by Hoffman, LLC trimmed with 20,000 LED lights.  Along with nightly entertainment, there will be visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus!  Join us at our kick-off event on Friday, November 27th for ENERGY AWARENESS NIGHT with radio personality Otis Day from 101.1 WIXX.  We will have a special FAMILY NIGHT on Sunday, November 29th:  everyone will receive 50% off admission prices (does not include wagon ride).  Bring your families and join us for the area’s favorite holiday tradition, the WPS Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Garden.

Dates: 

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays · November 27th-December 27th (Closed Christmas Day)

Hours: 

Fridays and Saturdays · 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
       (Wagon rides: 5:00pm – 8:00pm)  

 Sundays · 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
        (Wagon rides: 5:00pm – 8:00pm)   
                
Admission fee: 

Horse drawn wagon rides:   $10 adults    $6 children 5-12
 

Walking tour (1 mile):    $7 adults      $4 children 5-12
       

Children 4 and under: FREE

Tickets may be purchased in advance at any Festival Foods location and Green Bay Botanical Garden.
   
FREE Shuttles from NWTC Parking Lot G

Outside:
* Over 250,000 lights
* Complete path lighting and benches along the entire trail
* Displays:  Winter wonderland of lights in botanically themed displays including: coneflowers, sunflowers, shasta daisies, songbirds, snowflakes, praying mantis, dragonflies, spiders, liatris, poinsettias, floral arch, a swan display, water lilies, lily pads, cranes, stream, frog, shooting stars, holly, butterflies, dragonflies and frame trees.  Also included is a 200’ foot ‘icicle forest’ comprising 10,000 lights, 200 chinese lanterns and a dragon named Falcor

* NEW this year, a 60’ long walk-through caterpillar that stands 7’ tall and 7’ wide trimmed in 20,000 LED lights!
* Several of the displays are moved around and redone each year to add interest
* A hand-crafted decorative burn barrel for guests to warm themselves by a toasty fire

Inside Visitors’ Center:
* 14 foot Christmas tree decorated with natural ornaments: colorful annual statice, strawflowers, gomphrena, Queen Anne’s lace, yarrow, hydrangea, grasses and pods
* Trellis Gift Shop open with Christmas gifts for gardeners and non-gardeners
* Popcorn, cookies, soup and hot beverages available for purchase
* Local musicians and choir groups performing most evenings
* Special visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus

Other Key Facts:
* The light show constitutes over 250,000 lights, most of them LEDs
* The installation of the show begins in mid-October and takes six weeks to complete
* 500 volunteer hours and 450 staff hours are spent installing the light displays
* Two miles of extension cords are used
* An additional 550 volunteers hours and 1500 staff hours are spent during the event itself
* Attendance of the event has been as high as 27,000
* Horse drawn wagon rides are provided for an additional fee from Davisters Stable & Carriage Rides

About Green Bay Botanical Garden
Green Bay Botanical Garden, located at 2600 Larsen Road behind Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), opened in 1996 and sits on 47 lush acres. The organization enriches the region by providing educational and recreational opportunities that focus on the beauty and utility of plants within an environment that inspires and refreshes.

For more information, contact:
 Tonia Derouin, Marketing Coordinator
Green Bay Botanical Garden
 920-491-3691 Ext. 101
 tderouin@gbbg.org


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