HALES CORNERS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Opening tonight, Sept. 12, China Lights has transformed Boerner Botanical Gardens into a magical forest with traditional Chinese lanterns. This year's theme is based on mythical creatures and a boy that ventures into a forest.

"It was based on a story of a 7-year-old boy whose name is Coda, who walks through the forest," said Huiyuan Liu, with Tianyu Arts and Culture, the company that puts on China Lights. "That’s what we based our design and imagination from. And from there, we created plants and animals from a different world for people to experience." 

You'll experience bubbles and fog in the water area and interactive Halloween-themed spaces. 

This is the eighth year China Lights is returning to Boerner. Liu says more than 95% of the lanterns are new and different than last year. They have more than 40 displays and hundreds of lanterns for families to enjoy. 

Lantern festivals have been a tradition in China for thousands of years. Liu hopes to continue the tradition in Wisconsin.

"We have Chinese Lantern Festival every year at the end of the year, on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year," she said. "That’s a time where families and friends will get together and they will walk through the lantern festival and spend time together."

China Lights is open from 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays until Nov. 2. Tickets are available in person or online.