On Saturday night, The Stanley Hotel once again proved why it is the beating heart of spooky season in Estes Park with its annual Shining Ball. The event drew Stephen King fans and costume-clad revelers from across Colorado and beyond for an evening of fright and festivity inside the Stanley Concert Hall.
Even before the doors opened at 7:30 p.m., the venue’s exterior was lit in eerie red and blue hues, with the word “REDRUM” scrawled in projection across the building’s façade. That unsettling glow set the stage for what has become one of the area’s most anticipated Halloween-adjacent events: a night when the ghosts of King’s imagination collide with the joy of a costumed dance party.
Guests began their evening with a meticulous check-in process. Security scanned tickets and IDs at the lower level of the hall, enforcing the event’s 21-and-up age limit and strict bag policy. Clear plastic totes and clutch purses were the only allowed carry-ins, part of The Stanley’s emphasis on safety and efficiency.
Once inside, attendees found themselves surrounded by reminders of the hotel’s haunted legacy. On the ground floor, a bar served beer, wine, cocktails, and small food items, while a photo booth invited groups to pose in front of the infamous Room 217 door with an axe-splintered hole in it and a Shining Ball background. A balcony bar upstairs and another inside the Concert Hall kept lines moving as people claimed space on the dance floor.
Costumes that could kill
As much as the music fuels the party, the Shining Ball is as much a fashion show as it is a dance. This year’s crowd leaned heavily into King’s universe: couples dressed as Wendy and Jack from “The Shining,” eerie twins in matching blue dresses, and spectral figures who looked pulled straight from the Overlook Hotel’s black-and-white party photo.
The creativity didn’t stop there. Pennywise the Dancing Clown made multiple appearances, along with Georgie in his yellow rain slicker. Other guests pushed the boundaries: one duo arrived as the Grabber and his phone booth from the horror film “The Black Phone,” while another pair hit the dance floor as a witch being burned at the stake and her gleeful executioner.
Skeletons, superheroes, disco ghouls, jellyfish, and multiple versions of Art the Clown mixed in, proving that this was not an event for the unfestive.
At 9:15 p.m., the annual costume contest brought the house together. Judges first narrowed the crowd down to four finalists in each category: Best Shining Costume and Best Stephen King Costume. From there, it was up to the audience’s applause to determine the winners.
A particularly menacing Pennywise took the King-themed prize, while a chilling “Redrum” mirror box creation claimed the Shining title. Both winners earned $250 cash prizes, along with bragging rights that will last long after the Halloween season fades.
The real pulse of the evening came from DJ Mack, a Miami-based performer known for mixing nostalgic hits with modern party anthems. Starting at 8:30 p.m., he kept the dance floor packed with a playlist that ranged from Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.”
The selection may have leaned more lighthearted than horrifying, but it worked. Guests — many of whom were in their 40s to 60s — sang along, raised their hands at the DJ’s prompts, and kept the energy high. Mack’s ability to read the crowd and keep the momentum rolling ensured that the Concert Hall remained buzzing until the final beat at 11 p.m.
A wicked tradition
One of the things that makes the Shining Ball unique is the mix of people it attracts. This year saw Estes Park residents dancing alongside Denver day-trippers, Boulder students, and even visitors who traveled from Iowa and other states specifically to take part.
That diverse turnout translated into a crowded town earlier in the day, as hotels filled up and restaurants bustled with pre-party diners. Parking, always a challenge at the historic property, was eased with overflow lots and clear signage, though construction closures meant some guests had to wind their way through detours. Those staying overnight at the hotel parked for free, a perk many seemed eager to take advantage of.
By the time the curfew hit at 11 p.m., the night had given attendees exactly what it promised: an electric mashup of horror homage and carefree dancing. The Stanley Hotel has leaned into its role as a cultural touchstone for Stephen King fans, and the Shining Ball underscores just how much that identity resonates.
Whether guests came dressed as ghouls, clowns, witches, or simply enthusiastic spectators, the event offered a chance to step outside the ordinary and into a shared fever dream. As one attendee said while heading out into the cool mountain night, “If you didn’t dress up, you’re the odd one out.”
In Estes Park, there is no clearer sign that Halloween has arrived than The Shining Ball. With The Stanley Hotel glowing against the night sky and the thrumming beat of dancers echoing across the valley, the evening makes it unmistakably clear: spooky season is here.