What to Know About Balloon Rides

Rides with Rainbow Ryders are available during the festival, lasting 45 minutes to an hour and coming with a celebratory toast and a flight certificate. But there are important restrictions: children under 5 are not eligible to ride due to insurance requirements, and pregnant individuals are also excluded.

If you have little ones who can't ride, don't worry. Watching 65 balloons inflate and launch from the ground is genuinely magical, especially for kids under 5. The evening balloon glows — where the balloons stay on the ground and illuminate from inside — are another excellent experience for younger children.

Evening Glows and Other Activities

Saturday and Sunday nights feature the Lift and Glow event, where all of the balloons at the festival illuminate the park simultaneously. If your family can only make it for one session, the evening glow is often easier for families with younger kids who don't do 6:30 AM particularly well.

Throughout the day, the festival includes U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue parachute demonstrations, Grizzly drone light shows after dark, live music, a carnival midway, and food vendors. If you have an adult runner in the family, the Orangetheory 5K runs Sunday morning around Prospect Lake.

Practical Tips Before You Go

Memorial Park is in central Colorado Springs, and road closures near the venue are typical during the event. Check the Labor Day Lift Off website for information on anticipated closures before you leave home. Parking fills early on weekend mornings.

Review the prohibited items list on the official website — you don't want to arrive with something that can't come in. And if you're planning to stay for multiple sessions, bringing sunscreen and layers is wise: mornings can be cool and midday sun at Colorado Springs altitude can be intense.

What's Next

The 50th Labor Day Lift Off runs September 5-7, 2026 at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs. All three days are free to attend. It's one of the best family weekends on the COS calendar — and it's right here in your backyard.