Residents near The Broadmoor didn’t have to travel far to find a 4th of July parade Saturday morning — it was right outside their front lawns.

Homeowners dressed in their patriotic garb, kids rode bikes and scooters decorated with streamers and Cheyenne Mountain High School cheerleaders displayed their patriotism while marching in the half mile parade on Bear Paw Lane. Residents stuck around for a potluck afterward, stacking their plates with watermelon, potato salad and barbecue sandwiches.

Communities across the Pikes Peak region are commemorating the Fourth this year with similar celebrations. In Falcon, the annual Falcon Freedom Days on Saturday brought residents out for a pancake breakfast, a bike parade and a petting zoo.

“In Falcon, there’s not a lot that goes on out here. It’s mostly in the Springs or in the Denver area, so this is something that’s local,” said festival planner Anne Gomes.

Tri-Lakes residents will get their chance to celebrate Monday when people pile into Palmer Lake for a pancake breakfast, parades with homemade floats, a street fair and fireworks.

Wendy Wright started the parade on Bear Paw Lane last year after noticing that the southwest neighborhood was in need of a patriotic event.

“It is real down-home, grassroots type feel. It’s a fun little gathering for all of us to keep in touch with each other and visit and see how everybody’s doing,” Wright said.

This year, even a Range Rider, the Girls of the West, members of an Air Force color guard and Olympic figure skater Rachael Flatt joined in on the neighborhood gathering.

Though most residents were in the parade, either waving from old fashioned cars or pushing young ones along on their bikes, others mingled on the sidelines and cheered for their neighbors.

“I liked how it was open to anyone and anyone could do it,” said 11-year-old Andrew Connaughton.

Photo by STEVEN HILL