Another Thing We Love About Colorado… the balloon festival

The balloon festival!

Every Labor Day weekend in Memorial Park, over 75 hot air balloons are gathered for a spectacular show. You don’t want to miss this!

They call it the Labor Day Lift Off… some handy alliteration so you remember when it comes around—Labor. Day. Sadly, it’s over for 2022 but we’ll try to remind you next year.

Half the town is there in the morning, and the other half is there at night. Seriously. Where did all these people come from? It’s truly a community gathering event, and aren’t we so glad we get those after the dark lonely days of Covid? Yes!

If you’re an early bird, go in the morning for the launch…  

And if you’re a night owl, go in the evening for the glow…

Actually, the best is the lucky folks who live in neighborhoods adjacent to the park, who can wake up and walk outside in their bathrobes to look up to see a balloon serenely floating above their house. Or even better, standing within shouting distance from the pilot who is meeting the chase care to set themselves down and show your kids how to pack all of this gorgeous, colorful silk into a teeny tiny trailer. Those balloon folks are really fun and love to share their craft with everyone they meet.

A word of warning for the night owls, don’t go too late… like we did. Wondering why everyone was walking AWAY from the park, then finding out that by 8:15pm they were laying those giants down and packing up. Well, we got to hear the announcer about 18 times– frantically counting down to get everyone to burn at the same time (which is truly magical!) Not everyone is game for burning on cue, at least by 8:15pm. But when it happens, it is worth the long walk from where you parked.

Anyhow, Labor Day Lift Off… been there, done that, check! Next September 2023, we’ll see you there!

Carmen, exchange student from Seville, who is being an excellent sport, and her tour guide, CS native Derek, who clearly loves balloons