2022 Labor Day Lift Off

Celebrating its 46th year,  The Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off-2022 is an event not to be missed!   More than 70 different hot air balloons will converge upon Memorial Park over Labor Day weekend for a colorful, gravity defying festival of fun. Three days packed with music, food and activities brings the community together—We’ve got the details on what to do and how to do it stress-free. Check it out!

Lift Off

Daily balloon lift off is at 7am every morning.  Get to Memorial Park by 6:30am to watch the balloons inflate and to catch them as they launch. The mass liftoff happens between 7am to 9am all three mornings. 

Feeling adventurous and want a piece of the action?  Rainbow Ryders offers balloon rides all three days of the festival.  Prices per person range from $345 to $395 and the flight will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Please visit coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com for details and to book your flight.  Whether you’re flying high with Rainbow Ryders or watching the colorful spectacle with your feet solid on the ground, be sure to dress in layers for the day.  The early morning chill can quickly turn to warm and even hot weather later in the day.

Balloon Glow

Perhaps one of the most spectacular happenings at this amazing event is the evening moon glow.  On Saturday and Sunday evening at 7:30pm, the many balloons will inflate and ignite their burners to create a magical display against the night sky.  Be sure to arrive early to experience the many activities, live music and food available for your enjoyment.

If the weather turns too windy, the balloons will not be able to inflate and go up.  But don’t skip the festivities!  The balloonist will still light their burners (which creates its own cool effect) and the live music and vendors will be there to entertain.

Vendors, Music and Food

What would any festival be without music, vendors, food and fun activities?  The 2022 Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off has all the above and more! Satisfy your sweet tooth while devouring doughnuts in the Krispy Kreme doughnut eating contest or indulge in the Balloons, Brews, & Bites happy hour, September 3rd & 4th from 3:30-5:30pm. And new this year is the Lace Up & Lift Off 5k sponsored by Orangetheory.  For a complete list of entertainment, vendors and activities, please visit LaborDayLiftOff.com.

Quick Tips for Parking and Getting Around

Parking at Memorial Park is normally free.  However, there is a charge to park there during the Labor Day Weekend.  The cost to park will be between $5 and $15, depending on your proximity to the park. You will need to pre-purchase a parking pass in order to guarantee a parking spot.  Parking passes can be purchased at coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com.  Additionally, many of the streets in and around the park will be temporarily closed or detoured to accommodate the huge influx of traffic during those three days.  A list of these temporary closures can be found at coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com.  This is the busiest weekend of the year at Memorial Park.  Please drive with extra patience and caution in the area, especially after dark.  Many of the side streets around the park are poorly lit which can make it difficult to see pedestrians.