Live Here · Annual Events
The calendar earns its keep.
Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Air Force Academy graduation. Labor Day Lift Off (hot-air balloons over the Springs). Festival of Lights Parade. Olympic Museum tournaments. There's something worth getting out for every month of the year.
Air Force Academy Graduation
Thunderbirds flyover. Open to the public. One of the biggest events on the local calendar.
Cinco de Mayo Festival
Cucharas Park downtown. Music, food, family-friendly. Free.
Earth Day at Garden of the Gods
Free volunteer trail cleanup + family activities. Spring kickoff.
Manitou Heritage Day Parade
Quirky local parade through Manitou Springs. Old-school small-town vibe.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
"The Race to the Clouds" — 156 turns, 14,115 feet. Motorsports + spectator event. Plus practice days are sometimes free.
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
One of the oldest rodeos in the country (since 1937). PRCA-sanctioned. Family-friendly.
Colorado State Fair
Pueblo (1 hour south). Concerts, livestock, fair food, demolition derby. Multi-day event.
Concerts at Red Rocks + Broadmoor
Red Rocks (90 min north) — world-class venue. Broadmoor hotel hosts summer outdoor concerts on the lawn.
Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off
Hot-air balloon festival. ~70 balloons take off at sunrise. Memorial Park. Free. One of the most photographed events of the year.
Colorado Wine Festival
Held in Palisade (3 hours west) but worth the drive. Western Slope wineries at altitude.
Emma Crawford Coffin Races
Manitou Springs. Costumed teams race coffins down Manitou Avenue. Real Colorado weirdness.
Pumpkin Beer Festival (Old Chicago)
Local breweries put out fall seasonals. Sample at multiple venues across town.
Festival of Lights Parade
Downtown. Hundreds of lit floats. Family-friendly. Mid-December.
Broadmoor Holiday Festivities
The Broadmoor lights and decorates lavishly. Worth the drive even if you're not staying. Free to wander.
Cripple Creek Ice Festival
Historic mining town becomes ice sculpture city. Family-friendly day trip.
Curling at the Broadmoor
Open to the public. Easier than you think. Surprisingly addictive.
Year-round, not just summer.
The Springs has shoulder-season magic.
Most people visit in July. Real locals know April and October are the sweet spots — fewer crowds, more access, better weather most days. If you're scouting a move, visit in shoulder season.