Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s not often that impromptu parades celebrate a holiday in Winchester.

However, on Tuesday in Winchester, it accomplished such a mission.

With over a dozen residents and local business owners celebrating, the first Patriot Promenade marched along Main Street to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Several local business owners, including Chad Walker, conceived the idea.

“The small business community down here is really tight, and the whole intent was [to] forget about business for a couple of hours [and] enjoy each other,” said Walker, who co-owns The Engine House Pizza and Pub. “Everybody celebrates Fourth of July their own way, but this is just a way to sort of pay homage.”

Gathering at The Engine House at 4:00 p.m., the group planned to walk to Micki’s Irish Bar for a festive atmosphere and an opportunity to draw awareness to Independence Day.

At first, however, plans seemed to go awry.

Although the group was equipped with umbrellas, heavy rains initially kept them inside and delayed the proceedings.

Nevertheless, the excitement was evident, and it was clear that the day’s planned march would still take place.

Although rain was still falling slightly, the individuals who partook decided to begin the parade at approximately 4:30 p.m..

Beginning on W. Lexington Ave., the group walked toward Main Street.

There was plenty to put them in the holiday spirit as they did.

Walker, dressed in Revolutionary War-era garb, had with him a  drum that he played.

Soon after, as they walked on Main Street toward Broadway St., 36-inch sparklers were introduced, with many waving them during the journey as passersby showed recognition and appreciation.

Once they reached Broadway Street, the attendees turned right and headed to Micki’s Irish Bar.

Along with taking a group photo, they enjoyed drinks, food, dancing, and more.

One of the local business owners participating in the day’s activities was Adam Kidd – owner of the McEldowney Building and Project Administrator at Dam Holdings LLC.

Another, Mason Rhodus, accompanied the group.

“I got excited because Chad invited me to come and do this,” said Rhodus, who owns Mason on Main antique store. “It was a childhood dream of his to march on the 4th of July on Main Street, so I told him I would help him do that.”

While many dressed for the occasion, including Kidd and Rhodus, perhaps nobody looked more festive than local resident Garett Henry.

An employee of the federal government, Henry wore an outfit consisting solely of the American flag with red, white and blue colors.

“To me, the fourth represents ideals of peace, love, happiness, and freedom, which hundreds of millions of Americans strive for daily, and hundreds of thousands of people choose to defend with their lives, if necessary,” said. “It truly is an ambition and powerful goal, and though our country is far from perfect, those [basic] ideals keep us united and working toward a better future for all.”

In organizing the event, Walker concurred.

“To me, it’s all about our freedoms, our service personnel that have served overseas or even domestically,” he said. “I get to do [fun] things like this because of the sacrifices they’ve made.”

Walker hopes that businesses will continue to work together.

“The business owners have all sort of hopped in and assisted with trying to keep Winchester alive,” Walker said. “That’s its own exercise of freedom, which we like as well.”