Word on the street is that there were a lot of people on the street for the Fourth of July parade, car show and flea market. The crowds began lining the streets all the way up in Silver Cliff for the parade and went all the way down to the end of the street in Westcliffe.

Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe estimated the crowd in town to be at least 5,000, “...more people than I’ve ever seen for the Fourth of July and any other time,” he said. He also thought there may have been the same number of people out at the lake. He said they started coming Thursday and Friday for the weekend.

Grant Lewinski reiterated Jobe’s assessment. There were well over last year’s estimated throngs of 5000 people. “It felt good,” he said. “The quality of the car show and the flea market, the concessions and everything was good. People were here in droves.”

Lynetta Gillmore of Chuck Wagon Trading Post on Main Street downtown said, “I don’t think I’ve seen this many people in Westcliffe.” “It’s our busiest day of the year,” said Patty Martinez of Wet Mountain Treasures. She agreed that there was a lot of foot traffic. Peggy Willman said she was busy from the time she opened the Sangre de Cristo Gallery and Rock Shop. It quieted down after the car show. She also said she was busy on Sunday.

Area restaurants were slammed. Cel Dor Asado had more than double sales from any other busy weekend of the year. They had planned to be busy and started out with a lot, but still ran out and kept having to run to the store for more supplies, said Amy Slabach. Jessica Penfield said that Poag Mahone’s was rockin’ and rollin’ from the time they opened the door and Edwardo’s was, “busy, busy, busy from 8 a.m.-9p.m.,” according to Melissa Patton. Joy Paquette at the Westcliffe Stage Stop Soft Ice Cream and Smoothie Saloon said they did about a week’s worth of business in one day.

Everyone is gearing up for another big weekend with High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival kicking off tonight and winding up on Sunday.

– Jacque Keller