Aurora Borealis Festival Returns October 10 - 11, 2025 With Light-Filled Celebration and Pop-Up Installation at Stanley Marketplace
To Celebrate Its Second Year, Festival Debuts Immersive Light Artwork by Diana Markel Ahead of October Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2025
Located inside Stanley Marketplace’s North Entrance, SKY FLAMES is an original sculptural artwork by acclaimed Colorado artist Diana Merkel. Inspired by the flame-like movement of the Northern Lights, the installation features four suspended, lantern-like structures, ranging in height from two to four feet. Each is crafted from CNC-cut wooden ribs and illuminated by color-changing LED globes etched with intricate designs. The result is a striking interplay of light, reflection, and space, transforming a traditionally dim area into a glowing, immersive experience.
“The Aurora Borealis Festival is more than a weekend celebration; it’s a way to bring the Aurora community together, spotlight local creativity, and invite visitors to see everything our city has to offer,” said Bruce Dalton, president and CEO of Visit Aurora. “With this installation at Stanley Marketplace, we’re giving the community a glimpse of the magic that’s coming this October.”
Designed to be flexible and scalable, SKY FLAMES not only activates public space at Stanley Marketplace but also serves as a prototype for an installation that will debut at the 2025 Aurora Borealis Festival, continuing Merkel’s exploration of how light shapes space and perception. Following the event, this installation will be added to the display at Stanly Marketplace.
“SKY FLAMES is about capturing a fleeting moment of beauty, the way light dances across the sky during the aurora borealis, and inviting people to pause and take in the moment,” said Merkel. “I’m honored to help bring that experience to life for Aurora and excited to be part of a festival that celebrates community, connection, creativity, and the power of shared public space.”
Merkel is known for creating transformative, light-based environments that spark human connection. Her work, featured at The Beacon, Burning Man, and multiple local and national festivals, blends sculpture, architecture, and interactive storytelling. Merkel was also the artist behind the sculptural lighting in the Stanley Marketplace Orb Garden at the inaugural Aurora Borealis Festival in 2024.
Stanley Marketplace, one of Aurora’s most beloved cultural and retail hubs, is proud to host the preview installation. “We’re thrilled to give our guests an early look at the incredible creativity that defines the Aurora Borealis Festival,” said Ally Fredeen, general manager of Stanley Marketplace. “This installation brings light and joy into our space and reflects exactly the kind of community-focused, artful energy we love to support here.”
Set beneath the open skies of Painted Prairie, the Aurora Borealis Festival offers a weekend filled with immersive light art, live music, the Global Gift Bazaar, multicultural cuisine at the Flavors of Aurora Food Court, hands-on activities, and cultural performances. As the event enters its second year, the family-friendly festival continues to grow as a cornerstone event for Aurora, celebrating its diversity, creativity, and identity as a vibrant tourism destination.
Timed-entry tickets range from $17 for general admission to $83 for a VIP experience. For full event details and to purchase tickets, visit auroraborealisfestival.com.
About Visit Aurora:
Visit Aurora is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Aurora, Colo., and acts as the primary liaison between meeting planners and hotel partners. As Aurora's official Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Aurora's mission is to grow travel and tourism through world-class destination marketing, sales, and advocacy, resulting in positive economic benefits for businesses and residents of our community. For more information, visit visitaurora.com.
Media Contact:
David Jacobson
Director of Marketing and PR, Visit Aurora
davidjacobson@visitaurora.com
720-484-8912