5:30-11 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5:30-11 a.m. Monday; opening ceremonies 6:30 a.m., first wave of balloons lifts off at 7 a.m., second wave of balloons at 7:20 a.m.; Wings of Blue demonstration (U.S. Air Force parachute team), 6:30 p.m. Saturday; live entertainment, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Balloon Glow, 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave., free; coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com

Parking: There will be general parking available for $5-$10. VIP parking passes are available online for $50-$75. A free bike valet will be located at the north end of the field.

Labor Day weekend in Colorado Springs has long been associated with hot air balloons.

Last year, when organizers of the Colorado Balloon Classic said they wouldn’t return in 2015, many feared the long-standing tradition was dead. Fortunately for the fans, the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off stepped in and swooped up the reins.

“We’re trying to make it so the community of Colorado Springs is proud of this event,” says Scott Appelman, managing member of Hot Apple Productions, the company responsible for the event.

About 50,000 people attended last year’s festival.

This year 68 balloons from across the world are scheduled to fly – 11 of them are special shapes, including Yoda and Darth Vader.

Ray Bair will bring “Kaleidoscope,” his rainbow-colored round balloon from Albuquerque. The commercial balloonist has attended the Springs balloon rally for years, and usually makes it to about 10 rallies around the country every year.

“The surroundings are so nice to fly in,” says Bair. “We fly out of Memorial Park and frequently fly south or southeast. The territory gets increasingly open and becomes relatively stress-free in finding a landing.”

Event organizers want to make the inaugural event about more than just the balloons. If there’s inclement weather and the balloons can’t fly, visitors won’t feel like they made a wasted trip.

There’ll be a beer garden open in the morning and evening, evening concerts by Suga Bear and the Showtime Band, exhibits including ultimate Frisbee, wakeboards and paddle boards on Prospect Lake, the Wings of Blue U.S. Air Force skydiving team and paid balloon rides by Rainbow Ryders.

JENNIFER MULSON, THE GAZETTE, 636-0270, JEN.MULSON@GAZETTE.COM