Manitou Springs is rolling out a holiday parking program designed to make it easier and cheaper for shoppers and visitors to spend time in the city's downtown corridor. The city is offering two fully free parking days and two-hour free parking windows on a series of dates through the holiday season.
On Nov. 27, drivers can park at no charge for the entire day on Canon, Hiawatha, and Dillon streets, as well as in the city's parking lots. That all-day free parking continues the following day, Nov. 28, in observance of Small Business Saturday.
Starting Nov. 29 and running again from Dec. 12 through Dec. 26, the city is offering the first two hours of parking free on those same streets, with drivers required to check in through the Honk Mobile App or a nearby kiosk to receive the benefit. After the initial two-hour window closes, standard parking rates resume.
The city framed the program as an invitation to both residents and out-of-towners. The interim parking director, Stacey Salvatore, said "the holiday season is a wonderful time to explore downtown Manitou Springs," adding that the city welcomes everyone "to enjoy the festive atmosphere, support local businesses, and take advantage of the City's free holiday parking special."
The free parking offering is part of a broader city effort to direct foot traffic toward local businesses during the busy shopping period. Drivers planning to use the two-hour free window on the eligible dates should confirm they have the Honk Mobile App installed or locate a kiosk before their visit, as the discount requires active redemption rather than automatic application.
The city has not announced whether the program will be extended beyond Dec. 26 or expanded to additional locations, leaving open the question of further holiday parking relief into the new year.