For more than 25-years the Green Bay Botanical Garden has been lighting up the holidays with its botanical themed light show. There are more than 350,000 lights on 37 different displays. Dave Barkow has been there since day one as the architect and designer, “We’re here to knock your socks-off, something you probably never seen before.” Most of the displays are one of a kind and custom made.
Barkow and his staff of volunteers start creating the winter wonderland in early October and it takes about seven weeks to setup. The repair work, maintenance and designing of the light show lasts all year. His favorite spot is the two-acre pond called “Lake of Lights” where multiple beacons of light dance across the night sky to the beat of holiday music.
Another favorite is the seven-foot tall, 70 feet long caterpillar where visitors can walk through 20,000 lights. Literally you can immerse yourself in the color. Barkow enjoys seeing the excitement families feel as they create a memory during their walk through the Garden of Lights.
Barkow said, “I’m honored to be part of the botanical garden. I’ve considered myself lucky to be a part of this place and experience all these years. It’s a happy time of year.”
