SPARK to Make Its U.S. Debut at the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts

With multiple wildfires blazing across the state, Summit County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions — meaning no bonfires, charcoal grills and, of course, fireworks. Even outside of extreme risk periods, Breckenridge has some of the strictest firework regulations in Colorado.

However, the town isn’t one to burst visitors’ bubbles. Starting tonight, August 15, thousands of iridescent orbs will float high into the sky with the U.S. premiere of SPARK by Studio Roosegaarde. This safer, more sustainable way to celebrate is among the marquee experiences at this year’s Breckenridge International Festival of Arts.

Ranked among the mountain town’s best summer activities, this event occurs from August 15 to 24 and offers a range of music, dance, theater and visual art programming. However, SPARK will only be on view through the evening of Sunday, August 17. This immersive outdoor installation will appear on the Riverwalk Center Lawn and though free to attend, timed entry reservations are required in order to limit crowds.
In part, Dutch artist and SPARK creator Daan Roosegaarde partnered with Breckenridge due to its willingness to showcase his work without charge. Additionally, the town is actively pursuing certification as a Dark Sky Community, which aligns with Roosegaarde’s sustainability values. Darkness is also necessary for the installation’s full effect.

Upon closer look, viewers will quickly recognize these “biodegradable light sparks” as bubbles — but not the ordinary type you’d find in a soapy sink. Using plant-based materials, the studio’s team of engineers expertly structure these spheres based on locations’ unique environmental factors. To date, SPARK has appeared in fourteen countries around the world, from Europe and the Middle East to Australia and Asia.

“If we would have used the sparks that we used in Singapore last week, it wouldn't have worked because of the high altitude,” Roosegaarde affirms. His team has spent the last two days running technical and artistic rehearsals in Breckenridge ahead of tonight’s public premiere.

While fireworks are loud with rapid, frenetic bursts, Roosegaarde compares SPARK to a campfire. “It has a sort of a breath. Sometimes it fades to black, and then it comes back. It keeps you in the moment.”
The cloud’s color changes with each sequence, rotating from an opalescent white to cobalt blue and a yellow-green hue that imitates fireflies, which Roosegaarde took special inspiration from. Due to habitat loss and light pollution, the glow of these bioluminescent beetles is becoming more scarce around the world. Fireflies are especially rare in Colorado, flashing for just around two weeks each summer, particularly during June and July.

Rather than causing environmental damage or disruption to wildlife, this soundless display looks to celebrate nature. “We made a conscious decision of not adding a music soundtrack. I did some experiments — Philip Glass, Steve Reich, sort of minimal music. But I always found it more impressive when it's silent because then, you have to imagine. That's the purpose of SPARK,” says Roosegaarde.

He concludes, “So often, we're scared about our future or even worse, ignorant. We rarely talk about the future. I hope that when you're here, you can enjoy it and find it beautiful. But what could also be interesting is that you wonder, ‘How can I contribute? How can I envision a better world?’”

On August 15 to 17 between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m., SPARK will appear on the Riverwalk Center Lawn at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge. Book free timed entry reservations online to attend.