The annual Colorado Springs Balloon Glow and lift off took place this past labor day, continuing the tradition since 1977 in Memorial Park. The event never fails to disappoint as the largest hot air balloon festival in Colorado, and one of the biggest in the nation.

The park is filled with excited children who might be holding trading cards given out by some of the hot air balloon pilots, elderly couples are who are carrying on a family tradition, teenagers with their friends, and parents. The glow has no limits regarding who can come, everyone is welcome, and it’s free! Twice a day over 60 hot air balloons inflate and gather crowds from all over the state. In the evenings, most of the balloons appear to be glowing as their burners are lit to keep the balloons filled. If you are more of a morning person, the balloons inflate and take off over Prospect Lake, where a few pilots dare to dip their baskets in the water as the sun rises in the park. Gaby Stenholm, 12, has been going every year since she was five,  to her the lift off in the morning is “always pretty magical, getting up in the morning when the sun is barely up and seeing the balloons blow up as the sun is coming up”.Over this past weekend the balloons did not take off on monday morning because of wind, but they did on Saturday and Sunday. If hot air balloons are of no interest to you there are dozens of food vendors, live music, bounce houses, and plenty of other ways to enjoy the night.

If you missed the festival this year, no worries, just go next year and take advantage of this unique Colorado Springs attraction.