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Wisconsin Public Service

Garden of Lights

Fun Facts

History

  • Started from an article read by Executive Director Glenn Spevacek about a similar event at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Jerry Landwehr (Director of Horticulture) visited and brought their event to life at the Garden in 1997
  • Started with a few displays and less than 100,000 lights as the Garden didn’t have many open areas at the time
  • All displays are nature-inspired.
  • Today, 350,000 lights (Between 325,000-350,000 LED lights and less than 1,000 incandescent) are used
  • 18–20 loads of mulch is put down on the groomed paths during the event
  • Average increase in the electrical bill for the month of December is $450

Maintenance & Set Up Schedule

January

Take down, store,
and repair lights.

May

Build and weld the steel frames, both old and new. Spray paint them black and prep for light attachment.

July

String and restring lights on frames.

October

Set up light show from the start of October through Thanksgiving.

Volunteers

  • Estimated hours on display creation and repair = 500 hours throughout the year
  • Set up Volunteers: 10–15 for 6 weeks/3 days a week at 4 hours = 720 hours to 1,080 hours
  • Event Volunteers: 53 per night for 19 nights; 1,007 total volunteers or 3,021 hours
  • More than 4,601 total hours

Light Displays

  • Started transitioning to LED in 2006 with 2 sets of lights

Less fading over the years

Built to last – less replacement cost

Energy efficient – less heat

  • The Garden uses both commercial grade (58 strings together) and residential grade (45 strings together)
  • We use 15,000–20,000 zip ties both 4” and 8”
  • We use regular household extension cords throughout the entire display
  • Each display is created, built, and set up by Garden staff, volunteers, or NWTC students – they are not purchased from a big box store!
  • On/off switches: 1 used for the upper garden and 2 used for the lower gardens
  • 2 miles of path lighting is used throughout the Garden
  • 14 computer controllers are used to make the lights flash/move and are encased in tote boxes for protection
  • RGB Technology is used in some of the displays

Our Lights Glow Green

The light structures glow almost exclusively using energy-efficient LED lights which not only consume up to 80% less electricity than traditional incandescent lights, but also have a lifespan of five years or more.

50' Tree Set Up Time Lapse

Green Bay Botanical Garden logo

920.490.9457
info@gbbg.org
2600 Larsen Rd
Green Bay, WI 54303

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Sounds of Nashville on August 11

will be moved indoors with limited seating due to Friday’s weather forecast. Tickets are no longer available. We apologize for any inconvenience!

The Bell Children's Garden is now closed through mid-January during WPS Garden of Lights.