AURORA, CO — Stanley Marketplace is thrilled to announce the return of Camp Christmas, the beloved holiday extravaganza created by local artist Lonnie Hanzon, in partnership with DCPA Off-Center. This year, Camp Christmas expands beyond its previous footprint for a full Marketplace-wide takeover, transforming Stanley Marketplace into a dazzling, joy-filled holiday destination.
Beginning in mid-November, the Camp Christmas Takeover at Stanley Marketplace will invite guests to explore:
Three themed pop-up bars hosted by some favorite Stanley establishments
Dazzling decor throughout the Marketplace, free to enjoy during business hours
A Marketplace-wide Merry Badge scavenger hunt – free and fun for all ages, with prizes for those who complete it
Free visits with Santa in public spaces every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 1pm
The Camp Christmas Gift Shop, stocked with quirky and delightful seasonal gifts
And the debut of Camp Christmas Express, a brand-new walk-through experience designed to tune up your holiday spirit
“Camp Christmas is a celebration of joy, nostalgia, and the magic of the season,” said Lonnie Hanzon, creator of Camp Christmas. “This year, we’re bringing that energy to every corner of Stanley Marketplace. It’s a place where people can gather, explore, and rediscover the wonder of the holidays—whether they’re sipping a themed cocktail, searching for Merry Badges, or boosting their holiday spirit through our new Camp Christmas Express.”
Stanley Marketplace spokesperson Allyson Fredeen shared her excitement: “Camp Christmas has brought incredible energy and foot traffic to Stanley in years past, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome it back in this new form. It’s a perfect reflection of what Stanley is all about—community, creativity, and fun.”
The Camp Christmas Express opens on Friday, November 21 and runs through December 24, 2025. This new, 15-minute walk-through experience is designed to take you from “meh” to “merry” in six dazzling cycles, from “Pre-Soak” to “Fluff & Buff,” with interactive installations and playful prompts. Visitors will check their emotional baggage (literally) before emerging renewed, glittering, and ready to take on the season. Admission is $10 per person with walk-up tickets only, no advance purchase necessary. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Check out the Camp Christmas Takeover at Stanely Marketplace details here.
Stanley Marketplace is a vibrant community space housed in a repurposed aviation manufacturing facility in Aurora, Colorado. Originally built in 1954 by aviation pioneer Bob Stanley, the building was once home to Stanley Aviation, the largest employer in Aurora during the 1950s and 60s. After sitting vacant for years, the 140,000-square-foot facility was transformed in 2016 into a collaborative marketplace grounded in community values and entrepreneurial spirit.
Today, Stanley Marketplace is home to more than 50 locally owned small businesses offering a unique mix of dining, shopping, fitness, wellness, creative studios, and community events. Guided by the “Stanifesto,” a vision for bringing people together and supporting positive change, Stanley continues to be a dynamic, inclusive space for connection, creativity, and community impact.
Hanzon Studios is a Colorado-based creative studio led by renowned installation artist Lonnie Hanzon, specializing in immersive environments, public art, and theatrical experiences. Known for transforming spaces into vibrant, story-rich worlds, Hanzon Studios has created iconic holiday installations for Neiman Marcus, Houston Zoo Lights, and Denver’s Parade of Lights, as well as large-scale public art across Colorado and internationally. With a focus on community engagement, visual storytelling, and experiential design, Hanzon Studios continues to push the boundaries of art and imagination.
Off-Center produces unexpected theatrical experiences that put the audience at the center of the story. What began in 2010 as a small theatrical test kitchen has grown into a signature line of programming for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, credited with bringing immersive theatre to Colorado and helping establish Denver as a national hub for immersive art.
Among Off-Center’s large-scale productions that have garnered local and national praise are: the world premieres of Theater of the Mind created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar, Sweet & Lucky created with New York-based Third Rail Projects, Camp Christmas with artist Lonnie Hanzon, produced a 360-degree staging of The Wild Party, presented The Last Defender, Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, and launched the national tours of acclaimed immersive experiences DARKFIELD: FLIGHT, SÉANCE, + COMA and MONOPOLY LIFESIZED: Travel Edition. With support from the Doris Duke and Wallace foundations, Off-Center has been recognized as a leader in developing new programming that attracts new audiences. Through Off-Center, the DCPA is the only professional regional theatre in the country regularly developing, producing, and presenting large-scale immersive and experiential work. www.denvercenter.org