Comment on From Colorado Springs' Memorial Park to Monument, Pikes Peak region celebrates Fourth o July

Thousands sprawled out across Memorial Park's lawn Saturday, passing plates of funnel cakes and bags of kettle corn, tossing Frisbees and listening to the sound of the symphony. For much of the day, the crowds waited. And during the final hours of the Fourth of July, they - some covered with umbrellas and rain jackets - watched the sky light up. While Memorial Park was the epicenter of Fourth festivities in Colorado Springs, there were a host of red, white and blue happenings across the Pikes Peak region. From downtown to Manitou Springs to Fountain, in city parks or small neighborhoods, folks huddled together under the July heat and paid tribute to America's 239th birthday.