Awe-Inspiring Views + Thrills Await at the Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival 2023

One of the most picturesque places in Colorado holding an event that they've held for nearly 40 years. It should be a great weekend for awesome photos.

The 39th annual Telluride Balloon Festival in early June will include crisp early morning launches and an evening 'glo' along Main Street. If you've never visited Telluride, believe me, it is well worth your time; with this balloon festival, even more so.

The 1870s in Colorado saw many taking the journey into the San Juan Mountains to find their fortune in gold and silver. Columbia was a tent camp in the valley of the mountains that many miners used. Columbia turned into a town, and in 1878 that town's name was changed to reflect what was happening in the area at that time: the search for telluride minerals. They named the town Telluride.

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Anyone who's visited Telluride can tell you that when you're there, you just feel 'Colorado.'  For example, if you were to send a picture of Main Street to a stranger across the world, they would probably say, 'That's Colorado.'  Telluride's annual balloon festival would be a perfect time to visit; whether it's your first or fiftieth time.

The 2023 Telluride Balloon Festival

• Friday, June 2: Static display of balloons for 5th grader participation.
• 6:30 a.m. launches from Telluride Town Park, on Saturday and Sunday morning.
• Young Life sells coffee, hot chocolate, juice, muffins, and more.
• Saturday night Main Street 'Glo' at 7 p.m.
• *Subject to change

TRAVELING TO TELLURIDE FROM FORT COLLINS

Depending upon how much time you want to spend on the road, you have three route options to Telluride:

STAYING IN TELLURIDE FOR THE BALLOON FESTIVAL

You can go all out by trying to get a room at The Imogene, or you can go 'less expensively' by staying in lovely Ouray (they have a shuttle to Telluride,) and stay at  Twin Peaks Lodge.