Big-city Fourth of July celebrations can be fun, but they have nothing on Woodland Park. The self-described "City Above the Clouds," 20 miles west of Colorado Springs and with a population of about 8,000, saluted the holiday Thursday with its annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Memorial Park in the center of town, which featured a fishing derby, pie- and watermelon-eating contests, sack races, dancing exhibitions, karaoke and a U.S.
flag presentation, among other activities. Several hundred people attended the celebration, sitting at picnic tables, spreading out blankets on lush green grass, playing cornhole and eating hot dogs, tacos, shaved ice and other summer treats sold by on-site vendors. The celebration took place during the morning and afternoon, so there were no fireworks.
But picture-postcard blue skies and cooler-than-normal temperatures for a July Fourth added to a day that organizers and residents say was all about family, fun and freedom. "Tradition, memories, good family fun," said Jessica Naples, who with her husband, Ben, brought sons Jonah, who turns 10 next week, Wyatt, who turns 5 also next week, and Calvin, 1, and 7-year-old daughter Mia, to the event and watched as they took turns casting lines into the park's pond during the early morning fishing derby. The Naples live in the Banning Lewis Ranch development on Colorado Springs' east side, but Jessica grew up in Woodland Park and the family comes back regularly to see her parents, who also.
