COS Family Events This Week: CMZoo Centennial, Military Week, Airshow Preview

Colorado Springs families have a full week ahead. Between a historic zoo opening, military appreciation discounts, a pop-up playgroup this morning, and a major airshow on the horizon, there's no shortage of things to do before Sunday. Here's everything you need to know to plan your week.

Military Appreciation Week — Through September 19

CMZoo's Military Appreciation Week runs concurrently with the centennial through Friday, September 19. Active-duty military, veterans, and retired service members receive 50% off base admission. Dependents qualify for the same discount. Bring your military ID at the gate — no advance registration required for the discount itself, though advance ticket purchase is still required.

If you have family members or friends who serve or have served, this is a practical window to visit together at half the standard cost. The centennial programming, the new giraffe center, and the Military Week discount all overlap through Friday — it's an unusually good time to go for military families.

Simple Gift Playgroup — This Morning

The Simple Gift Schoolhouse is hosting a pop-up playgroup this morning, September 15, at Poor Richard's Restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. The event runs from 9 to 11 AM and is aimed at young children and their families. Poor Richard's is a longtime Colorado Springs gathering spot — its central location makes it accessible from most parts of the city.

If you're looking for a low-key, social morning option before larger events later in the week, this playgroup is worth considering. It's a free-form, early connection for families with young children in a familiar community space.

Pikes Peak Regional Airshow — September 19–20

The Pikes Peak Regional Airshow comes to Colorado Springs Airport next weekend, September 19 and 20. This is one of the region's major annual family events, combining military and civilian aircraft demonstrations with ground activities for all ages.

Ticket pricing starts at $53.20 for adults and $42.18 for children. Advance tickets are available at pprairshow.org. Purchasing in advance is strongly recommended — the airshow draws large crowds and on-site ticket lines can be long. If you're planning to bring the whole family, locking in tickets before Friday will simplify the day.

The airshow is hosted at the Colorado Springs Airport, which has designated parking and entry procedures for event days. Check pprairshow.org for current gate times, parking directions, and any day-of updates before you go.

Quick Reference

What's Next

The week closes with the airshow on Saturday and Sunday, which effectively bridges into the following weekend. After CMZoo's centennial wraps on Sunday the 20th, the zoo returns to its standard operating schedule — but with the new giraffe center fully open and accessible to all visitors. For families who miss the centennial events this week, the giraffe center itself will remain a major draw well into the fall. Check cmzoo.org for regular hours and seasonal programming as the zoo transitions out of its centennial celebration mode.