The 50th annual Labor Day Lift Off is coming to Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on September 5, 6, and 7, 2026. Admission is free. About 200,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend. This is one of the biggest and most beloved family events in Colorado Springs, and if you haven't been before — or if you haven't brought your kids yet — this is the year to do it.

Practical Details for Families

Dates: September 5 (Saturday), September 6 (Sunday), and September 7 (Monday — Labor Day).

Location: Memorial Park, Colorado Springs. The park sits along Pikes Peak Avenue in the east-central part of the city.

Admission: Free. This is not a ticketed event — the grounds are open to the public at no cost. Food, beverages, and any activity vendors on-site will have their own pricing.

Parking: Memorial Park and the surrounding streets fill up fast. Pre-ordering a parking pass for $15 is strongly recommended and can be done through the event's official website. Walk-up or drive-up parking is limited and often unavailable by mid-morning on peak days. If you wait until the week of the event, parking options may be fully sold out or limited to cash-only remote lots.

Weather: Colorado Springs weather in early September can vary. Mornings are often cool. Afternoons warm up and can include afternoon thunderstorms, which is normal for Colorado at this time of year. Check the forecast the night before and plan layers. Balloon launches are weather-dependent — strong winds or lightning will ground the balloons.

Tips for Attending with Kids

Arrive early on at least one day. The dawn launches are typically the most spectacular — balloons lift off in the early morning light, and the crowds are lighter than in the afternoon. If you have kids who wake up early, this is a good use of that energy.

Bring folding chairs or a blanket if you plan to stay for any length of time. The viewing areas are largely open field and parking lot — there's no seating provided. Sunscreen and water are also essential for daytime attendance.

For families with young children who might not manage a full day on the field, the balloon glow viewing is often a shorter, contained experience and doesn't require arriving at dawn. It's worth checking the event schedule once it's posted for timing on balloon activities each day.

Why the 50th Anniversary Matters

A half-century of an event in a single city is a meaningful milestone. The Labor Day Lift Off began in 1976 and has been a consistent fixture of the Colorado Springs community calendar through economic shifts, weather cancellations, and the full sweep of the city's growth. Families who attended in the 1990s and early 2000s are now bringing their own children and grandchildren. This year's event is the same celebration it has always been — but the 50th carries a particular resonance for longtime COS residents.

What's Next

Pre-order parking now through the event's official channels before it sells out — $15 per pass, and the earlier the better. Mark September 5–7 on your calendar. COS Parenting will share additional details — balloon schedules, vendor lineups, and event maps — as the event date approaches. Watch for our full weekend guide closer to Labor Day.