Updated: August 18, 2025

Your Guide to Labor Day Lift Off

Plan ahead so you can fully enjoy this iconic annual event.

Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off is the biggest hot air balloon festival in the state of Colorado – and it’s FREE.

This three-day celebration is a bucket-list item, and if you’ll be in town, it’s a must. Whether you’ve attended before or this will be your first time, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to begin. Check out our guide for everything you need to know about this family-friendly festival.

Labor Day Lift Off

Festivities Offered

First thing’s first, you need to know about all the happenings so you can plan accordingly. There’s a full schedule available online, and here is a brief synopsis.

For the purposes of the 2025 event, the dates are as follows: Saturday, August 30, Sunday, August 31 and Monday, September 1.

Park and concessions open Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 5:15am
Park and concessions close Saturday and Sunday at 10pm and Monday at 10am
Morning drone shows are Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 6am
Morning balloon lift-off sessions are Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7am
Evening balloon glow sessions are Saturday and Sunday at 7pm
Evening drone shows are Saturday and Sunday at 9:30pm
Beer & Mimosa Gardens open up Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7am and Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm
Food trucks, merch vendors and more are available throughout each day
The OrangeTheory 5K is Sunday morning at 9am (paid registration required)
Demonstrations and entertainment throughout the weekend (detailed on the full schedule) includes: Wings of Blue USAF Skydiving Team, Aerial Aura Acrobats, RMSG Parkour Competition, Remote Controlled Balloons, Red Herring Productions and live music performances

Insider Info

Once you have an idea for the main events you want to hit, then you’ll be ready to expand your horizons. Check out all of these options for making the most of your Labor Day Lift Off weekend.