Visitors and neighbors past and present poured into the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Saturday for the 30th annual Fort Lowell Day celebration.
Barry Spicer, who's lived in the historic neighborhood for 65 years, says the event is a labor of love.
"The reason we started this 30 years ago was because we liked the neighborhood so well and we wanted to share it with other people, especially past residents, and anybody else who is interested in this sort of thing," he said.
Spicer spent the day telling visitors about the history of the area.
The festivities began at Fort Lowell Park, 2900 N. Craycroft Road, and continued west along Fort Lowell Road to the San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E. Fort Lowell.
Police closed Fort Lowell so people could stroll through the area and view and visit the many historic homes and buildings. At the chapel guests made paper flowers while the band Way Out West performed cowboy songs.
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For 10-year-old Konrad Brayer, who carried a plastic rifle and wore a cavalry hat, it was history as bright as the blue sky.
"This is pretty cool, because everybody is in uniform and they are doing all the stuff that would actually be happening, so it just ties in nicely," he said.
Women carrying parasols and wearing period costumes of the 1880s made their way around the park. Members of the Fourth U.S. Cavalry Regimental Band played as members of B Troop, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, a re-enactment group from Fort Huachuca, demonstrated complex maneuvers on horseback.
Mariachi and bluegrass music filled the air, and vendors selling Mexican and American fare filled people's stomachs.
Former New Yorkers Dave and Phyllis Gracy enjoyed soaking up the area's rich history.
"We come from the East Coast, where there is history in every little small town around," Dave Gracy said. "This is a little more spread out, but there is a lot of history to be seen here, too."
Annette Gallardo, in an 1880s-era dress, said historic festivals like the Fort Lowell Day celebration are important for the future.
"You don't want the younger generations to forget the past," she said.
Find out more about the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood at www.oldfortlowellneighborhood.org online.
Contact photographer David Sanders at 573-4155 or dsanders@azstarnet.com
