Celebrating Events In Prescott
Prescott has so much to offer to our citizens and visitors alike. This is the time of year when events take center stage. The months of June and early July are particularly active with events of all kinds including art fairs, music festivals, car shows, parades, fireworks and of course, Rodeo. These events offer a variety of experiences, and are enjoyed by our local residents as well as visitors.
One common misconception is that the City organizes all of these fine events. In fact, with just a few exceptions, special events are organized and hosted by locally based non-profit organizations. These events help raise funds while providing a unique experience for our community. Many of these events are financially supported by the City through tourism grants and sponsorships funded by the City’s transient occupancy (bed) tax.
Recently, the Phippen Museum of Western Art hosted the annual Phippen Western Art Show and Sale on the Courthouse Plaza, bringing fine Western artists from all over the world, and making Prescott the center of great western art.
Our historic downtown is home to many events, including the Summer Concert Series beginning in June, organized by Prescott Downtown Partnership and funded by the City’s bed tax. Territorial Days art show June 7th – 8th and the Prescott Bluegrass Festival June 21st- 22nd are both organized by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce. The Frontier Days Art Show July 4th is hosted by Prescott Downtown Partnership.
The Prescott Frontier Days World’s Oldest Rodeo takes place June 30 through July 6 this year at the historic rodeo grounds. This event brings top riders from around the world, and the past several years have seen sell out audiences. The Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Parade takes place Saturday July 5 throughout downtown, and is organized by Prescott Frontier Days, Inc.
The City is responsible for two major community events each year. One is the Fourth of July Fireworks. Our dedicated Recreation Services staff work hard to improve these events every year. We are excited about this year’s Fireworks event at Watson Lake. Once again this year, the 4th of July Fireworks will offer free admission for those who only want to attend and enjoy the show, thanks to underwriting from the bed tax. There will be a variety of activities including kids bounce houses, and VIP experiences for an additional fee.
New for this year, the City has installed removable bollards at key downtown intersections to be used as a safety barricade for parades and other events. This is a safety precaution, intended to keep vehicles out of the event area. These bollards will replace the use of City trucks and staff, saving a great deal of staff and resource use in the process.
Looking ahead, Prescott will stand with the rest of the country to proudly celebrate America 250, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We will have more details about the celebrations soon. In the meantime, here are some historical facts about America 250. Notably, this past April 19 marked the 250th anniversary of the “shot heard ‘round the world,” commemorating the first shots of the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. On June 17th this year we mark the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, arguably the first battle of the Revolution with the heroic leadership of Colonel William Prescott, grandfather of William Hickling Prescott, for whom our great City was named in 1864.
We hope you enjoy all that Prescott has to offer this month and all through the year.
