Balloon Glow 2021

As promised, a few snaps of the balloon glow. Some of these were taken with a camera and some with my cell phone. There was a huge turnout; the crowd was thick. It was nice to be able to enjoy a large local public event again.

End of Summer

Every year on Labor Day weekend (except last year, of course), there's a big balloon event at Memorial Park called the Labor Day Lift Off, formerly known as the Balloon Classic. The highlight for many is the balloon glow, and you have to admit it's pretty cool to see them illuminated at twilight like this! Here'a little teaser from this year's event. I'll post more tomorrow.

Balloon Glow fail

Well this year we really thought we had timed it just right, unlike last year, and that we'd see the Labor Day Lift-Off Balloon Glow at its apex. According to the Gazette, Saturday night's Glow was supposed to start at 7:30pm, so that's when we left our house. It takes us about 12 minutes to walk to Memorial Park from here. We figured we'd arrive as everything was in full swing. Alas, no. When we got there, the Balloon Glow was over and all we saw were a couple of balloon-less flamethrower things (whatever they're called!). Thanks Gazette. The Balloon Glow started at 7:00, not 7:30! Sunday's Balloon Glow was out of the question, since I had a wedding to shoot, so I guess we'll just have to try again next year.

Disappointment aside, I like this photo. It's dramatic. Kinda like a modern day scene from Dante's Inferno.

The Labor Day Lift-Off Balloon Glow

I told you last year around this time the bad news that a longstanding Colorado Springs tradition, the Balloon Classic, had abruptly decided to pull up stakes and leave town, much to the collective dismay of our residents. We loved our balloon festival. It was as much a part of our culture as Pikes Peak! But it wasn't long before the wheels were turning on the creation of a new annual balloon event, to be held on Labor Day Weekend at Memorial Park, just like the Classic had been. Thus the Labor Day Liftoff came to be, and this is its first year. Huzzah! I can tell you that, since we live in a neighborhood very near Memorial Park, it's been a crazy Labor Day weekend, with people coming from all over the area to see the balloons. Tons of traffic and road congestion, but I don't mind. It's just great to have the balloons again!

On Saturday night Pat and I decided at the last minute to go to the balloon glow, so I grabbed a camera and we started walking. But it was too late; by the time we reached the park, the balloon glow was over with and we found ourselves struggling against the tide as thousands of people left the park in search of their cars. We kept walking, however, and found that one balloon was still inflated and glowing. I managed to get a few pictures of it before it too went dark. As you can see, there are hordes of people in this picture, and this was after most of the attendees had already left. I guess that means that the Labor Day Liftoff is a success!

Hooray for the Labor Day Liftoff! We have our balloons back! The tradition lives on!