Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde may have just found a solution for the lack of firework displays in drought and wildfire-prone areas. 

Inspired by fireflies and stars, “SPARK” is an artistic display of thousands of biodegradable, floating spheres that gracefully drift across the night sky. 

Unlike traditional firework displays, the translucent bubbles, which are described by Roosegaarde as floatables, do not make any noise and do not pollute the skies with smoke. The silent, peaceful display of art creates a sustainable alternative to massive firework celebrations across the globe, especially for communities that have restricted or outlawed firework displays like Breckenridge.

“‘SPARK’ actually originated from the idea of how we can celebrate in a new way,” Roosegaarde said. “If you are looking for traditional fireworks on the Fourth of July, it can be cool, but the dogs go completely crazy. Very polluting. A lot of countries and a lot of cities ban it, but that is boring.”

After three years of trying to find a modern solution to fireworks, Roosegaarde came up with an environmentally friendly display that utilizes thousands of reflective bubbles.

“They are 100% plant-based biodegradables that vaporize the same night, creating this cloud of ever-changing light,” Roosegaarde said. 

Similar to firework shows, “SPARK” also has a dynamic element. With every show being hosted outdoors, the wind shapes the show, quickly separating the floatable spheres or creating a bridge of light across the sky.

“The wind makes it always behave in a different way,” Roosegaarde said. “It has sort of a breath. Sometimes it fades to black … disappearing, and it comes back. I like it a lot because it keeps you in the moment. It is not like a show where you go 10 minutes, bomb, bomb, bomb. It is more like a campfire.”

“SPARK” offers an immersive experience free of music or noise — a deliberate choice Roosegaarde wrestled with throughout the design process.

“We made a conscious decision to not add music or a soundtrack,” Roosegaarde said. “… I always found it more impressive when it is silent, because then you have to imagine. You have to get to work in your brain.”

Since 2022, “SPARK” has toured across the globe, with stops in Spain, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, London and Singapore.

From Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17, “SPARK” will make its debut in the U.S. as part of Breck Create’s Breckenridge International Festival of Arts. The art display is set up on the Riverwalk Center lawn across from Blue River Plaza with the surrounding street lights being cut off for the event. 

Each “SPARK” show is site-specific. With the Breckenridge show being set above 9,000 feet, Roosegaarde and his team even had to design a different floatable for the event.

“If we would have used the spark that we used in Singapore last week, it wouldn’t have been that good,” Roosegaarde said. “So it is always tweaking and tuning.”

Beyond providing a breathtaking display, “SPARK” helps Breckenridge work towards becoming a Dark Sky International Certified Community. 

Throughout each show, attendees will have the chance to witness the globes of light float across the Tenmile Range and into the starry sky. As people take in the display, Roosegaarde encourages people to slow down and ponder the world around them.

“It triggers people to sort of wonder,” Roosegaarde said. “So often, we are scared about our future or even worse, ignorant. We rarely talk about the future. I hope that when you are here, that you wonder. How can I contribute? How can I envision a better world?”

To ensure the best viewing experience, “SPARK” will have a free timed-entry reservation system. To book an entry time, visit BreckCreate.com.