Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
Hot air balloons fly over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Pilot Andrew Brindley from Indianapolis, Ind., unravels the envelop to his balloon before flying Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches into the clouds Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A balloon does a splash and dash into Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A pilot waves to the crowd along Prospect Lake as his balloon touches the lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons ascend into the clouds Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches from Memorial Park during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in the Colorado Springs park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A solo hot air balloon flies over Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A balloon does a splash and dash into Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)People cheer for a balloon after the pilot successfully touched the water of Prospect Lake for a splash and dash Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A spectator watches as hot air balloons sail over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)People watch as a hot air balloon prepares to launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A photographer takes a picture as hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Balloonist celebrate a successful splash and dash Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Canada geese and duck swim across Prospect Lake as hot air balloons fly in the background Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches into the sky Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch from Memorial Park during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in the Colorado Springs park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches into the clouds Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon flies over downtown Colorado Springs during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons fly over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Balloonist wave to the crowd along Prospect Lake as they launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park. This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)The sun rises behind hot air balloons as they launch from Memorial Park during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in the Colorado Springs park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon touches Prospect Lake for a splash and dash Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons fly over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon flys over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloon launch from Memorial Park and over Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons hover over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Balloonist wave to the crowd along Prospect Lake as they launch Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park. This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Hot air balloons hover over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Balloons fly over Valley Hi Golf Course during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon touches the surface of Prospect Lake for a splash and dash Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A pilot adds hot air to his balloon as he ascends over Prospect Lake Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A solo hot air balloon flies over Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A hot air balloon launches from Memorial Park as 14, 115-foot Pikes Peak stands in the background Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during the first day of the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. This year marks the 50th year of the balloon launch that runs through Monday morning. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Pilot Andrew Brindley, right, and his crew inflate his balloon during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)The beach at Prospect Lake as seen from a hot air balloon during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)A solo hot air balloon does a splash-and-dash into Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)Balloons fly over Prospect Lake during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off media day, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. The 50th year of the balloon festival runs Saturday to Monday morning in Memorial Park. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
