09/26/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2022 12:55
Mayor John Suthers presented a Spirit of the Springs Celebration Award to Richard "Dewey" Reinhard on Monday, Sept. 26 in recognition of his contributions to our community.
Reinhard founded and organized the first Colorado Springs Balloon Classic in 1976, which has become one of the most popular events in our area. The festival became one of the five largest balloon exhibitions in the country, the largest air show in Colorado and named among the top 100 events in North America. It grew from 100 spectators its first year to a record breaking 200,000+ in 2022. The event became known as the Labor Day Lift Off in 2015 and just celebrated its 46th year in Colorado Springs with nearly 80 balloons.