Seventy years ago the average cost of bread in the United States was 16 cents for a loaf. The average cost for a dozen eggs was 24 cents and for a gallon of gas, 19 cents. The President of the United States was Harry S. Truman. Other world leaders were Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and Jawahar Lal Nehru. And in Coal Creek Canyon Colorado they decided to start celebrating the Fourth of July with a community parade. They call it the Coal Creek Canyon 4th Fest.

While all the cost of products have drastically changed and all the world leaders have passed on, the 4th Fest in Coal Creek Canyon is more alive than ever.

This year the Coal Creek Canyon 4th Fest celebrated 70 years of community spirit and national pride with its annual event. The event, which happened to be on July 3 this year, started out with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs and sausage. The breakfast was sponsored by the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA) and held at the CCCIA Hall. All proceeds from the breakfast go to the CCCIA scholarship fund, benefiting a graduating senior from Coal Creek Canyon.

The line to eat breakfast was out the building and the crew in the kitchen was busy for hours flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs. This year they served approximately 223 people. I chatted with people from Idaho, Nevada and California who were there eating with the local folks. Plates were licked clean and tummies full after that breakfast feast.

The Coal Creek Canyon Scouts led the annual parade that takes place on Gross Dam Road. United Power, the cooperative power company which provides much of the electrical power in the mountains, was part of the parade as well as the Coal Creek Fire Department.

Then, the cars started coming down the road. Cars in pristine condition from decades past. Some even built a century ago. Behind me I heard detailed commentary from two men about each car that drove by. The engine, the tires, the horsepower. It was a little like listening to Click and Clack the Tappet brothers on NPR years ago. I turned around and commented on their wealth of vehicle knowledge and one gentleman immediately tells me his friend’s name is Kris Johnson and he is a long time resident of Coal Creek Canyon, but he does not tell me his name. Water being sprayed from a fire truck passing by ends our conversation.

As this lovely mountain parade ended my kids gathered the enormous amount of candy that had been tossed to them and we made our way back to the CCCIA Hall. Booths were set up in the parking lot there. We saw people promoting Saws and Slaws and stopping the expansion of Gross Dam. Chapel in the Hills was there promoting their church and the Gilpin Public Library was there with crafts for kids. There were booths selling food and some selling jewelry and pottery.

As the CCCIA prepared a lunch of hot dogs and sides and the 9’s a Pair - The Fireman Band got ready to play, the community spirit did not waver in Coal Creek Canyon. I will admit this was my first 4th Fest. This will not be my last. The people were so friendly, welcoming and they enjoyed getting together for their traditional breakfast and parade. My daughter is already talking about eating next year’s pancakes.