Every September, Pagosa Springs celebrates the arrival of fall with one of its most colorful traditions: Colorfest. From September 18–20, 2026, the weekend brings together hot air balloons, live music, local food, wine, craft beer, spirits and the beautiful early fall scenery of southwest Colorado.
Watching dozens of balloons rise over Pagosa Springs is memorable. Flying among them is an entirely different experience.
Pagosa Adventure is offering special-edition hot air balloon flights during Colorfest weekend. Passengers will have the rare opportunity to take part in the celebration from inside the basket, surrounded by colorful balloons and panoramic views of Pagosa Springs and the San Juan Mountains.
Colorfest flights include:
The complete experience lasts approximately three and a half hours, including setup, the flight, recovery and the post-flight celebration.
Flights are weather dependent, and availability is extremely limited. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged.
Colorfest takes place Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026.
The weekend begins with Passport to Pagosa from 6–9 p.m. This popular 21-and-over event features food from local restaurants, wine tastings and the People’s Choice culinary competition.
Saturday begins with the downtown hot air balloon mass ascension at approximately 7:30–8 a.m., launching south of The Springs Resort.
Later that afternoon, Bands, Brews & Barrels takes place from 4–8 p.m. with live music, beer and spirits tastings, food and family-friendly activities. At dusk, the balloons return for an evening balloon glow followed by a drone show.
The weekend concludes with another mass balloon ascension at approximately 7:30–8 a.m. Sunday’s balloons launch from the uptown area across from Les Schwab and fly over the Pagosa Lakes area when the winds cooperate.
All balloon launches and flights are subject to weather conditions. The latest official schedule and ticket information for Colorfest events are available through the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.
September mornings in Pagosa Springs can be cool, but temperatures warm quickly after sunrise. Passengers should dress in comfortable layers and wear closed-toe shoes.
We also recommend bringing:
Colorfest is already one of the most photographed and anticipated weekends of the year in Pagosa Springs. Experiencing it from a hot air balloon gives you a view few people ever get to see.
Colorfest balloon flights are $250 per person and space is limited.
Book your Colorfest hot air balloon flight with Pagosa Adventure, call 970-946-4450, or email PagosaAdventure@gmail.com.
Come fly with us and see Pagosa Springs Colorfest from the best seat in town.
