COLORADO, USA — Happy Labor Day weekend! Although it may be the unofficial end to summer, there's still time to head outdoors and experience all that Colorado has to offer during the season.
Colorado has a packed weekend of festivals including music, food, arts, crafts, balloon, wine and beer celebrations.
There are early signs of autumn, however. College football is back with three games this weekend and the first Oktoberfest steins of the year will be raised in Keystone and Beaver Creek.
Check out one of these awesome events happening across the Centennial State this Labor Day weekend. Remember to share your weekend photos with the "Near Me" feature on the 9NEWS app.
Labor Day Lift Off
COLORADO SPRINGS — A Southern Colorado tradition returns this weekend with the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Running Saturday through Monday, the free event begins each morning with an ascension of over 70 balloons accompanied by breakfast and drinks from local vendors. Throughout each day there will be skydiving demonstrations, a drone light show, paddle boarding and live entertainment. Evening balloon glows are set for Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off takes place at Memorial Park.
Colorado State Fair
PUEBLO — The largest summer event in Colorado continues this weekend in southern Colorado. The Colorado State Fair offers a carnival, 4-H exhibits, agricultural competitions, tractor pulls, live music performances, rodeos, bake offs and amazing food options. The Colorado State Fair runs through Monday with performances from The Commodores and The Spinners, Trace Adkins, Cody Cozz, Ludacris and Banda El Recodo, plus monster truck shows and a demolition derby. Check out the full fair schedule at ColoradoStateFair.com.
World Slopper-Eating Championship
PUEBLO — Major League Eating will hold the 6th annual World Slopper-Eating Championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Colorado State Fair. The World Slopper Eating Championship will feature the nation's top-ranked eaters, each hoping to set a world record in the slopper-eating discipline. The slopper, a staple Pueblo, consists of 1/4 lb of Colorado ground beef, topped off with a slice of cheese and served on a bottom bun and smothered in Pueblo green chile. Eaters will have eight minutes to consume as many sloppers as possible, and the eater who consumes the most sloppers within the competition wins.
Windsor Harvest Festival
WINDSOR — Windsor's largest family-friendly event is back for a 102nd year this Labor Day weekend. This year's Windsor Harvest Festival theme is "Small Town Heroes." The festival runs from Saturday to Monday with live music, a street dance, BBQ, car show, pancake breakfast, horse-drawn carriage rides, outdoor games, beer garden, movie screening in the park, and firework show. Balloon launches are planned for Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. at Eastman Park. A parade steps off at 9 a.m. Monday. Visit WindsorHarvestFestival.com to see the complete schedule.
Labor Day Weekend in Creede
CREEDE — Creede's Labor Day Weekend celebration is packed with events including a mountain run, live music and and more. The 38th annual Creede Mountain Run takes place Saturday. Participants will enjoy the breathtaking San Juan Mountains in 50K, 22 mile, 12 mile and two-mile runs. Registration is available online. To see the complete Labor Day Weekend schedule, visit Creede.com.
Labor Day Parade
LOUISVILLE — The 88th annual Labor Day celebration is Louisville's biggest community event of the year. The Labor Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will run south down Main Street.
Fountain Fall Festival & Parade
FOUNTAIN — The 54th annual Fountain Fall Festival and Parade arrive Monday in Fountain. The Labor Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday and will run along Main Street and Ohio Avenue. The Fall Festival opens at 11:30 a.m. at John Metcalf Park.
Water World's final weekend
FEDERAL HEIGHTS — This is the final weekend of 2024 to visit one of America's largest family water parks. Water World's final three days of operation this season are Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Water World features more than fifty attractions, from kids rides to huge thrill rides. Most food and drinks can be brought into the park making it perfect for picnics and parking is free. Avoid the lines and get your tickets online.
Elitch Gardens water park
DENVER — The Labor Day holiday is the final day to visit the water park at Elitch Gardens. Although the water park closes for the season after Labor Day, the main amusement park area will remain open weekends through Sunday, Nov. 3.
Broncos Fit 7K
DENVER — The 12th annual Broncos Fit 7K returns to Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday. All runners will receive an exclusive Broncos shirt, finisher's medal and the experience of racing across the field and crossing the 50-yard line.
Labor Day Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
PARKER — Celebrate the holiday weekend with a half marathon, 10K or 5K. There's a distance for everyone at Monday's races at Parker's Salisbury Park. Runners of all abilities are welcome. Each participant gets a running shirt, finisher's medal, chip timing and race photos. Race registration is available at ColoradoRunnerEvents.com.
WWE
DENVER — World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will host two events at Ball Arena over Labor Day weekend. The professional wrestling company will host "NXT No Mercy" at Ball Arena on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Performers on the card include Ethan Page, Trick Williams, Roxanne Perez, Obi Femi, Shawn Spears and Wes Lee.
A night later, WWE will bring the long-running, nationally televised series "Monday Night Raw" at Ball Arena on Monday at 5:30 p.m. WWE Superstars advertised to appear at "Raw" include Damian Priest, Jey Uso, Liv Morgan, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio and Drew McIntyre.
The Doobie Brothers
DENVER — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Doobie Brothers bring the "The 2024 Tour" to Colorado. The tour will make a Denver stop at Ball Arena on Thursday with special guest Steve Winwood. The tour follows The Doobie Brothers' 50th anniversary tour which had Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, and John McFee on the road together for the first time in over 25 years. Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster.com.
North Dakota State vs. Colorado Buffaloes
BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes football team begins its second season under head coach Deion Sanders on Thursday. The Buffs are back in the national spotlight with the first of many nationally televised games. Colorado hosts the talented North Dakota State Bison at 6 p.m. Thursday at Folsom Field. The Buffs will debut a new videoboard at Folsom Field.
Merrimack vs. Air Force Falcons
COLORADO SPRINGS — The Air Force Falcons football team opens its 2024 season this weekend. The Falcons host Merrimack at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Falcon Stadium in north Colorado Springs.
William Jewell College vs. Fort Lewis College
DURANGO — The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks football team begins its season with a game on Saturday. Fort Lewis hosts William Jewell College at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
Boulder Art Festival
BOULDER — The Boulder Art Festival is a celebration of over 90 artists from various disciplines. The festival will feature an array of artisans and crafters displaying and selling their creations in pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, home décor, furniture, home accessories, photography and more. Boulder Art Festival runs Saturday and Sunday on the Pearl Street Mall.
Estes Park Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show
ESTES PARK — The Estes Park Arts and Crafts Show brings over 100 artisans to downtown Estes Park every Labor Day weekend. This year's show runs from Saturday to Monday at Bond Park. The show, when combined with the shops and restaurants of downtown, make Estes Park a great weekend destination on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Commonwheel Art Festival
MANITOU SPRINGS — Manitou Springs' Memorial Park is the site of this weekend’s Commonwheel Artists Co-op 50th annual Labor Day Weekend Art Festival. The festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Monday. There will be dozens of art vendors, live music, food options, beer garden and kids’ activities. Admission is free.
Keystone Oktoberfest
KEYSTONE — Oktoberfest season officially arrives with Saturday's 11th annual Oktoberfest at Keystone’s River Run Village. Attendees will be raising their steins, dancing to oompah bands and savoring delicious German fare. The festival, which runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., will have live music, food and seasonal beer. The festival will also have a kids’ area with crafts and dance performances from the Denver German Traditional Dance Group. If you buy a commemorative 2024 stein, you'll get three beer tokens. Stein tickets are available online.
Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
BEAVER CREEK — Beaver Creek’s long-running Oktoberfest is a family-friendly celebration of traditional live music, food and drink the heart of a Bavarian-inspired village. Festivities planned on Friday, Saturday and Sunday include stein-hoisting competitions, bratwurst-eating competition, best-dressed contest and live music. A complete schedule can be found at BeaverCreek.com.
JAS Labor Day Experience
SNOWMASS VILLAGE — The Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience is a popular three-day music festival on the grounds outside the Snowmass Village Recreation Center. This year's 33rd annual lineup includes Brandi Carlile, Sting, Dierks Bentley, OneRepublic, Lukas Nelson, The Black Crowes, The War and Treaty and more. The festival runs Friday to Sunday. Tickets are sold at JazzAspenSnowmass.org.
Nan Desu Kan
AURORA — The three-day Japanese culture convention Nan Desu Kan is back this weekend at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora. Since 1997, the event has showcased traditional Japanese arts, anime, cosplay, gaming, shopping, music, dance, voice actors, competitions, charity and more. Nan Desu Kan runs Friday through Sunday. Check out the full lineup at NDKDenver.org.
History Comes to Life Showcase
CENTENNIAL — The public is invited to see two rare, historic aircraft up close in Colorado this weekend. Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum will host the "History Comes to Life Showcase" at Exploration of Flight, located at Centennial Airport from Friday through Monday. The Labor Day weekend event is being held in partnership with the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing. The featured aircraft of this event include the C-47 "That’s All, Brother" that led the invasion on D-Day in 1944 and the vintage B-25J Mitchell WWII bomber "Yellow Rose."
Vail Duck Race
VAIL — The Vail Rotary Club is hosting its annual rubber duck race at 3 p.m. this Sunday. The club will send about 15,000 ducks down Gore Creek. The race will begin at the Covered Bridge and end at the Vail Rotary International Bridge. The owner of the first duck that enters the chute will win $5,000. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Vail Rotary which supports many Vail-area organizations. Ducks are available for adoption online.
Ouray County Rodeo
RIDGWAY — Ouray County is ready for rodeo! The 2024 Ouray County Labor Day Rodeo will be held Monday with a parade at 10 a.m. and CPRA Rodeo at 12 p.m. Active military and children under six receive free admission.
Labor Day Rodeo
TRINIDAD — The Trinidad Round-Up Association's 114th annual Labor Day Weekend Rodeo is a three-day celebration at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds. The weekend includes rodeo performances, beer garden, food vendors, mutton bustin, stick horse races, nickel scramble and more.
Windsor Cruise In Car Show
WINDSOR — One of the largest car shows in northern Colorado will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Windsor Cruise In Car Show at Eastman Park will have categories in 20s and older, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and trucks. There is no entry fee for car enthusiasts interested in stopping by, viewing the cars, meeting and mingling with the owners of the vehicles.
Four Corners Motorcycle Rally
DURANGO — Durango, which serves as a gateway to the world famous Million Dollar Highway, is the home of this weekend's five-day Four Corners Motorcycle Rally. There will be races, stunt shows, live music, bike shows and more. Visit FourCornersMotorcycleRally.com to see a complete event schedule.
Four Corners Folk Festival
PAGOSA SPRINGS — The 28th annual Four Corners Folk Festival runs Friday to Sunday with live performances from Sam Bush, Ozomatli, Sunny War, Tophouse, Drew Emmitt Band, Jeremy Garrett Band, Stillhouse Junkies and more. Children 12 and under get free admission and camping when accompanied by an adult.
Yampa Valley Crane Fest
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The 13th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival will be held Thursday to Sunday in Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Craig. The festival features four-days of mostly free events, but some activities require advance registration. Organizers say the best way to view cranes are the four guided crane-viewing events throughout the festival. This year’s event also will have guided crane-viewings, bird and nature walks, expert speakers, films, crane and bird art, children and family activities and more. See the full schedule at ColoradoCranes.org.
Breckenridge Hogfest: Bacon & Bourbon
BRECKENRIDGE — "Bacon is the most loved food in the universe and the route to all things swine and divine," said organizers of the Breckenridge Hogfest. "Add in the quintessential American liquor, bourbon; mind blown. These indulgences come together for Breckenridge Hogfest." This three-day festival at Main Street Station & The Village in Breckenridge offers pork samples, whiskeys, single malt scotches and barrel-aged spirits with live music. Tickets for Breckenridge Hogfest, which runs Friday to Sunday are available online.
Colorado National Speedway
DACONO — Colorado National Speedway will host a night of racing this Saturday. Short track NASCAR-sanctioned racing is scheduled for Saturday with legends, Grand American Modifieds, bandoleros, and trains followed by a post-race firework show. Tickets are available at the box office or ColoradoSpeedway.com.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Colorado Rockies
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have games planned at Coors Field through Sunday. The Rockies host the Marlins on Wednesday and Thursday. The Baltimore Orioles come to Denver from Friday through Sunday. Friday night's game features a "WWE Takeover" before the wrestling company hosts two events at Ball Arena on Sunday and Monday.
Grand Junction Jackalopes vs. Northern Colorado Owlz
WINDSOR — Two Colorado minor league baseball rivals square off in Windsor this Labor Day weekend. The Northern Colorado Owlz host Grand Junction Jackalopes from Friday to Monday. For tickets, visit NorthernColoradoOwlz.com.
Phish
COMMERCE CITY — In what's become a tradition dating back to 2011, Phish will return to Colorado over Labor Day weekend. Known for its improvisational style and dedicated fan base, the jam band will perform four concerts at Dick’s Sporting Good Park. Phish will play at the Commerce City stadium Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Phish's run in Colorado ends the band's 2024 summer tour, which started in April in Seattle. Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster.com.
Telluride Film Festival
TELLURIDE — The 50th annual Telluride Film Festival is this Labor Day weekend. The prestigious event features many films premiering for the first time in North America. From Thursday to Monday, more than 50 programs will be screened in ten venues. The lineup of the Telluride Film Festival will not be revealed until the weekend.
Red Rocks
DENVER — There is no better venue for live music in the country than Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The Red Rocks 2024 concert schedule is actually still growing with new shows being added in October and November. This summer looks to be one for the record books.
- Wednesday, Aug. 28 - Khruangbin
- Thursday, Aug. 29 - Lamb of God, Mastodon
- Friday, Aug. 30 - Rezz
- Saturday, Aug. 31 - Dierks Bentley
- Sunday, Sept. 1 - Gregory Alan Isakov
- Monday, Sept. 2 - Gregory Alan Isakov
- Tuesday, Sept. 3 - Glass Animals
- Wednesday, Sept. 4 - Glass Animals
The Power of Poison
DENVER — A new temporary exhibition at Denver Museum of Nature and Science, "The Power of Poison" explores the captivating and often paradoxical world of nature's toxic arsenal. Through live performances and interactive dioramas, this exhibition will take you into familiar and novel tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Whether used as a defense against predators, a source of magical strength or a lifesaving medical treatment, "The Power of Poison" is sure to surprise.
The North Pole: Santa's Workshop
CASCADE — Colorado's favorite Christmas-themed amusement park is open for the season. Home to Santa's village and the jolly old elf himself, The North Pole: Santa’s Workshop, located at 7,500 feet at the foot of Pikes Peak west of Colorado Springs, traditionally opens the weekend before Memorial Day and remains open through Christmas. With vintage rides and sweet treats, the park as been spreading Christmas cheer since 1956.
Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park
DENVER — Four Mile Historic Park has transformed into a glowing landscape that immerses visitors with larger-than-life lantern installations that include a mythical dragon that blows smoke, Colorado wildlife and flowers, a crystal forest with unicorns, and creatures from Chinese mythology. The Bright Nights series will be open until Sept. 29. Proceeds from the installation go to help pay for animal care at the park, as well as maintain the historic museum, the oldest standing structure in Denver.
Movies this weekend
“Deadpool & Wolverine” continues to dominate the global cinema box office. “Inside Out 2” has been on the charts for 11 consecutive weekends and remains the No. 1 animated film of all time globally.
New movies this weekend
- Reagan
- 1992
- Afraid
- City of Dreams
Last weekend's box office
- “Deadpool & Wolverine,” $18.3 million.
- “Alien: Romulus,” $16.2 million.
- “It Ends With Us,” $11.9 million.
- “Blink Twice,” $7.3 million.
- “The Forge,” $6.6 million.
- “Twisters,” $6.2 million.
- “Coraline,” $5.1 million.
- “The Crow,” $4.6 million.
- “Despicable Me 4,” $4.4 million.
- “Inside Out 2,” $2.1 million.
> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
