The essential guide to Colorado Springs events in 2026
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Darth Vader at the 2018 Labor Day Lift Off balloon festival. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
There is a lot of fun to be had in and around Colorado Springs in 2026.
State of play: Whether you're new to town or remember when nothing stood north of Briargate, here's a guide to the local events worth circling this year.
March
🍷 Wine Festival of Colorado Springs: For wine lovers, there is no better time to be in Colorado Springs. Several of the side events, like the cocktail class at Icons, are sold out, but all main events at The Broadmoor are still available. Tickets are $55-225. (March 4-7)
May
🎶 Meadowgrass Music Festival: Camping, scenery and songs fill the Black Forest area, featuring local and national music acts spanning genres from folk to funk. The vibe is relaxed, rootsy and decidedly family friendly. Kids 12 and younger get in free, and passes start at $55. (May 22-24)
🤠 Territory Days: This Memorial Day weekend staple in Old Colorado City celebrates the wilder Western days of the Colorado gold rush. This year marks the event's 50th anniversary, bringing three stages of live music plus a sprawling vendor fair and plenty of free frontier flair. (May 23-25)
June
🏳️🌈 Pikes Peak Pride: The city's annual downtown parade and festival traditionally lands the week before Denver's. The Sunday parade wraps near Alamo Square Park (at the Pioneer Museum), where a main stage and full slate of festivities keep the celebration going. (June 13-14)
🍳 Western Street Breakfast: What could be more Colorado than a cowboy breakfast among hay bales? This tradition kicks off rodeo season and features a horseback procession through downtown, marking a weeklong ride into the backcountry. Cost is $5. Kids 5 and younger eat free. (June 17)
✊🏾 Southern Colorado Juneteenth Fest: A free three-day celebration of emancipation featuring music, fashion, food and community connection.(June 19-21)
🎉 Pikes Peak Hill Climb: High elevation, high octane — and high voltage, too. The 106th running of the race draws competitors from near and far. And don't miss the free Fan Fest downtown on June 19, arguably the best street party of the year. (June 19-21)
July
🐄 Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo: A week of rodeo fun honoring the cowboy tradition takes over the Norris Penrose Event Center. Come for the pro rodeo competition; stay for the fan-favorite mutton busting and Western pageantry. Tickets are $25-$50. (July 14-18)
August
💫 Colorado Springs Comic Con: Southern Colorado's biggest card and comic convention goes down at the Broadmoor World Arena. This year's special guests include Mick Foley and Marisa Tomei. Full weekend passes start at $134. (Aug. 21-23)
September
🎈 Labor Day Lift Off: The Springs' most hot-air-filled weekend returns to Memorial Park with spectacular dawn flights and twilight "glows." Concerts, drone shows and carnival rides for kids elevate the experience to new heights. Entry to Memorial Park is free. (Sept. 5-7)
🗻 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon: Ever wondered what would happen if you routed a footrace straight up a 14er? Well, it's a real thing, and each year, runners with seemingly superhuman lung capacity charge up Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes Peak. (Sept 19-20)
December
🎄 Festival of Lights Parade: For 42 years, the Springs community has ushered in the holidays with a free downtown parade of floats festooned with Christmas lights. Regional high school bands provide the soundtrack, and eateries along the route offer warm food and drinks. (Dec. 5)
🎇 New Year's fireworks: If you're in town on New Year's Eve, be sure to participate in the local tradition of racing outside at midnight (or 9pm for the kiddos) to see the show launched from the summit. The AdAmAn Club's traditional fireworks show stretches back to 1922. (Dec. 31)