SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Just days away from Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, and neighbors in Speedway on Tuesday were decorating for their annual porch parties.

At the corner of Gerrard Avenue and West 22nd Street is where Cindy Hahn lives. For more than two decades, Hahn has decorated her porch every May. Every year, there’s something new to add.

There’s the Borg-Warner Trophy outside her window, a race tire, porch swings in a black-and-white checkerboard print, not to mention black-and-white flowers. But, the newest additions — and her favorite — are the race flags. “The flags behind me — that’s a big deal. We have little flags in the same colors, but acquiring this one this year is a really big deal for us.”

Hahn said the flags are about the same size as the ones waved on race day. “Around here, we all have a good time. It’s just a reason to come together.”

Terrel Watkins lives next door. “The porch is my woo-sah place. You know, get off work, come sit on the porch and wind down.”

Checkered decor wraps around Watkins’ porch. He said this month is his favorite time of year. “Speedway in May is a special thing. It’s a vibe. We got it decked out. We got the lighting on there; the race flags all up. But, it’s for the whole neighborhood, for the whole town. It’s race town.”

Porch parties are an annual tradition, and so is turning lawns into parking lots. Watkins said, “This yard here will be full of cars, full of people parking to go to the race. And some of them will stay till the race is over.”

Watkins added that it’s a good way to meet neighbors and strangers who will eventually be friends.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway encourages porch parties and are providing a porch map online.