Labor Day Weekend Brings Festivals, Balloons and Family Fun to El Paso County
Labor Day weekend is here, and communities across El Paso County are giving residents plenty of ways to enjoy the final long weekend of summer.
From a long-running Fountain tradition celebrating its 56th year to the 50th anniversary of Colorado Springs' iconic hot air balloon festival, two of the area's biggest events will bring families, visitors, food, entertainment and plenty of community spirit to the region.
Fountain Fall Festival returns Monday
Fountain will celebrate Labor Day with its annual Fountain Valley Fall Festival & Parade on Monday, Sept. 7, at Metcalfe Park.
The 56th annual festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is expected to draw thousands of residents to the community. The free, family-friendly celebration will feature a parade, local vendors, food, live music and activities for people of all ages.
The festival has become one of Fountain's signature annual celebrations, giving residents an opportunity to gather in the city's Old Town area while showcasing local businesses, organizations and community groups.
The parade is one of the day's major attractions, with participants making their way through Fountain as spectators line the route.
For families, the festival offers a chance to spend the holiday together without having to travel far from home. Visitors can browse vendor booths, grab food and enjoy live entertainment while taking in one of Fountain's biggest community events of the year.
The festival is coordinated with support from the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce, which has promoted the event as a Labor Day tradition that brings together residents, businesses and community organizations.
Labor Day Lift Off celebrates 50 years
In Colorado Springs, the holiday weekend will once again begin with one of the most recognizable sights of the Pikes Peak region: dozens of colorful hot air balloons rising over Memorial Park.
The Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off returns Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5-7, for its 50th anniversary at Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off in Memorial Park.
General admission is free, and the event is scheduled at Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
The signature morning launches are expected to once again bring large crowds to the park. Balloon crews begin preparing before sunrise, giving spectators the opportunity to watch the balloons inflate before they take to the sky when weather conditions allow.
The anniversary is a significant milestone for an event that has become closely associated with Labor Day in Colorado Springs. Organizers are expecting a particularly large turnout for this year's celebration, with local officials preparing for the crowds and increased traffic around Memorial Park.
The festival will offer more than just the morning balloon launches. Visitors can expect vendors, food, family activities and evening entertainment, including balloon glow events when weather conditions permit.
The balloon launches and other balloon-related activities are dependent on weather conditions, particularly wind, so schedules can change.
A busy weekend across the county
Together, the Fountain Fall Festival and Labor Day Lift Off offer two very different ways to spend the holiday weekend- one rooted in Fountain's community and western heritage and the other showcasing the spectacular balloons that have become a Colorado Springs Labor Day tradition.
For residents planning to attend either event, organizers recommend arriving early, particularly for the most popular activities. The Lift Off is expected to draw significant crowds, while Fountain's parade and festival will also bring increased activity to the city's downtown and Metcalfe Park area.
Labor Day officially falls on Monday, Sept. 7, marking the traditional end of the summer season. For many in El Paso County, however, the holiday weekend has become less about saying goodbye to summer and more about one last opportunity to get outside, gather with family and friends, and celebrate the community.
Whether you're watching balloons rise over Memorial Park at sunrise or lining the streets of Fountain for the annual parade, El Paso County has no shortage of ways to make the most of the long weekend.
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