COLORADO SPRINGS — The 47th annual Labor Day Lift Off event kicks off this weekend.
What started off as a fun small event in 1977 has grown to one of the most cherished traditions in the Pikes Peak region.
Balloonists from all over Colorado and from across the country travel here every year to see the excitement behind the hot air balloons in the sky, with the beautiful backdrop of Pikes Peak. If lifting off in a hot air balloon isn’t your thing, there is still so much to do at Labor Day Lift Off. This year includes live music, a beer garden, a family rodeo zone, and even a drone light show.
“There are not many places that have Pikes Peak as a backdrop and all these beautiful mountains, plus having such a welcoming community. The balloonists feel very comfortable and very welcomed in the Colorado Springs area so that’s what makes this event so successful,” said Scott Appelman, Labor Day Lift Off’s director.
“For me, after doing this for so long, to me is seeing the smiles on peoples faces. The five-year-old’s, the two years old and the hundred-year-olds that are all out here. And being able to provide that experience and for our ride passengers that fly, being part of that memory for people,” said Appelman.
The three-day event is free for the whole family and will be held at Memorial Park. On Saturday, Memorial Park will open, along with concessions at 5 a.m. The first balloon lift off is at 7 a.m.
75 hot air balloons are expected to fly high in the sky during this big celebration. If you plan to attend, parking passes can be purchased on-site.
The full schedule for the event is as follows:
Morning Session
- 5:00 a.m. Park and concessions open
- 5:45 a.m. Drone show
- 6:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony
- 6:30 a.m. Pepsi Family Rodeo Zone opens
- 7:00 a.m. ULTRA Beer Garden opens
- 7:00 a.m. Balloon lift off
- 8:30 a.m. Remote control balloon display
- 9:00 a.m. USAFA Wings of Blue Skydive Jumpers
- 10:00 a.m. Prospect Lake events
Evening Session
- 3:30 p.m. Park and concessions open
- 3:30 p.m. Pepsi Family Rodeo Zone open
- 3:30 p.m. ULTRA Beer Garden
- 3:30 p.m. Remote control balloon display
- 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Hot Air Happy Hour
- 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Concert | Missy & The Dirty Secrets
- 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Aerial acrobats | Aerial Aura
- 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Concert | Cody Cozz
- 7:00 p.m. Balloon Glow
- 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Concert | Cody Cozz
- 9:30 p.m. Drone show
- 10:00 p.m. Park and concessions close
Morning Session
- 5:00 a.m. Park and concessions open
- 5:45 a.m. Drone show
- 6:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony
- 6:30 a.m. Pepsi Family Rodeo Zone opens
- 7:00 a.m. ULTRA Beer Garden opens
- 7:00 a.m. Balloon lift off
- 8:30 a.m. Remote control balloon display
- 9:00 a.m. USAFA Wings of Blue Skydive Jumpers
- 9:00 a.m. Orangetheory 5k
- 10:00 a.m. Prospect Lake events
Evening Session
- 3:30 p.m. Park and concessions open
- 3:30 p.m. Pepsi Family Rodeo Zone open
- 3:30 p.m. ULTRA Beer Garden
- 3:30 p.m. Remote control balloon display
- 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Hot Air Happy Hour
- 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Concert | Mosquito Pass
- 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Aerial acrobats | Aerial Aura
- 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Concert | The Martini Shot Band
- 7:00 p.m. Balloon Glow
- 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Concert | The Martini Shot Band
- 9:30 p.m. Drone show
- 10:00 p.m. Park and concessions close
Monday - Military Appreciation Day
Morning Session
- 5:00 a.m. Park and concessions open
- 5:45 a.m. Drone show
- 6:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony
- 6:30 a.m. Pepsi Family Rodeo Zone opens
- 7:00 a.m. ULTRA Beer Garden opens
- 7:00 a.m. Balloon lift off
- 8:00 a.m. Concert | 4ID Mile High Rock Band
- 9:00 a.m. Remote control balloon display
- 9:15 a.m. Warbird flyover
TICKETS
The Labor Day Lift Off is a free event, but those wanting to attend will have to purchase a parking pass or pay for a tour bus pass.
Pre-sale parking passes are no longer available for purchase. Parking passes can still be purchased on-site with cash.
PARKING
Pre-sale tickets have already sold out, but you will be able to purchase parking passes the day of the event. See the map of specific parking lots below:
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