PHOTOS: 2023 Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off

One of the views that Ginger Gustafson had from the Coddiwomple balloon on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

A balloon flies near downtown Colorado Springs on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Ginger Gustafson is secured into a balloon in her wheelchair before taking a ride during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Gustafson became the first wheelchair-bound person to take flight in Colorado Springs in the specialized balloon designed for people with disabilities on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Pilot Mike “Heff” Heffron, pilot of the Coddiwomple, has the only balloon like it in the United States. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Mike “Heff” Heffron packs up the Coddiwomple during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Mike “Heff” Heffron pilots the Coddiwomple during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Ginger Gustafson and her brother, Rick Gustafson, wave to the crowd from above the Colorado Springs during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Gustafson became the first wheelchair-bound person to take flight in Colorado Springs in the specialized balloon designed for people with disabilities on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Her brother Rick surprised her with the flight. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Ginger Gustafson has a birds’ eye view of Colorado Springs during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Gustafson became the first wheelchair-bound person to take flight in Colorado Springs in the specialized balloon designed for people with disabilities on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Pilot Mike “Heff” Heffron, pilot of the Coddiwomple, has the only balloon like it in the United States. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Ginger Gustafson has a big hug for her brother, Rick Gustafson after he arranged for her to fly in her wheelchair in the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Pilot Mike “Heff” Heffron and Rick Gustafson help Ginger Gustafson after the balloon ride of her life during the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Gustafson became the first wheelchair-bound person to take flight in Colorado Springs in the specialized balloon designed for people with disabilities on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Pilot Dave Reineke (right) walks around the walls of Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon, checking the sides of the balloon during the cold inflate on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon and pilot Dave Reineke are two of the new kids on the block for this year’s Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Pilot Reineke (center) checks the sides of the balloon as volunteers hold it during the cold inflate on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Quinn Reilly sits on his father’s shoulders to get a better look at the Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon inflating as the crab balloon peeks over the top. The parrot balloon was one of the new kids on the block for this year’s Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Some of the volunteers for the Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon dressed as pirates. The parrot balloon was one of the new kids on the block for this year’s Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Pilot Dave Reineke uses the burners to finish inflating the Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon. The parrot balloon was one of the new kids on the block for this year’s Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot balloon looms over the crowd. The parrot balloon was one of the new kids on the block for this year’s Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. The balloons didn’t lift off on Sunday morning, because of winds at higher altitudes, but most still participated with a stationary inflation to please the thousands on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Turkey legs for breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023 at the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Balloons of all shapes and sizes take to the skies over Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Balloons are quickly laid out for the first wave of the festival after the 6:15 a.m. pilots meeting for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Families and friends gather around colorful balloons for their Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Zach Burgess’ balloon Claw’D takes off from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Labor Day Lift off volunteer Carol Mossa helps set up the Synchronicity balloons in Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Jeff Haliczer looks over his balloon Synchronicity alongside volunteer balloon chasers in Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

An organizer clears the way for a balloon take off from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

Jeff Haliczer of Nebraska takes to the air in his balloon Synchronicity in the first morning of the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

Heat is released into the balloon Synchronicity during the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

Balloons of all shapes and sizes take to the skies from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

Blue heeler Bandit peeks out of the airborne hot air balloon Synchronicity as it sails over Prospect Lake during the first day of Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. Bandit has ridden with Jeff Haliczer for nearly ten years now. (Gabi Broekema)

People take to the neighborhood streets to get a glimpse of the balloons soaring overhead from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

A Rainbow Ryders’ balloon is packed back up after landing just off of Fountain Ave during the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Balloons of all shapes and sizes take to the skies from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema)

People take to the neighborhood streets to get a glimpse of the balloons soaring overhead from Memorial Park for the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)

Labor Day Lift Off Volunteer Randy Stebbins holds down the top of Jeff Haliczer’s Synchronicity at the end of the flight during the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 2, 2023. (Gabi Broekema, The Gazette) (Gabi Broekema)