Mayor Phil Goode’s Letter for September 1, 2025 – Fall Events in Prescott

Photo: The 2024 Corvette Car Show in downtown Prescott

As we say goodbye to summer in Prescott, the list of events is still robust, as event organizers take advantage of our mild fall weather.

Here is a sampling of just some beloved September events in our great City.

Yavapai County Fair takes place September 4-7 at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. This event dates back to 1913, and features fun for the entire family with childrens activities, entertainment, music, rides, vendors, agricultural exhibits and a wide variety of food and attractions.

Prescott Indian Art Market at Sharlot Hall Museum Saturday, September 20-21. This is the 27^th annual event, showcasing works of 80+ top native artists.

Hope Fest Arizona on Sept 20, on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza.  Hope Fest welcomes families and friends for a day filled with fun interactive games and activities, live music, a Car and Bike Show, and the HOPE Serves Resource Fair.

Yavapai County Stand Down Sept 26 8 am –5 pm  at 1040 Whipple Street, offering a variety of services to our veterans including housing and employment assistance, legal and VA benefits support, veterans court, medical and mental health services and more.

Prescott Highland Games and Celtic Faire September 27-28 at “Loch Watson”.  There is something for everyone! There will be live bands, pipe band performances, a Highland Dance competition, food vendors, merchandise vendors, a genealogy booth, the Children’s Glen, athletic competitions and more.

Prescott Vette Sette All Corvette Car show  September 27-28 around the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, the 19^th annual event  will again offer a variety of classic and new show quality Corvettes in a beautiful downtown setting.

The Role of Prescott(s) In the American Revolution

As we move closer to the celebration of America 250, historians remind us that there was a great deal of activity leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  For example, the Continental Army was formed on June 14, 1775, and the Battle of Bunker Hill took place a few days later on June 17.  In fact between the Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775 and July 4, 1776, there were several important engagements between British military and General George Washington’s newly formed Continental Army.

Photo: The statue of Colonel William Prescott at the Bunker Hill Memorial (By Rhododendrites – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84155744)

Another interesting fact is that the Prescott family played important early roles in America’s war for independence.  Two Prescotts in particular.  Colonel William Prescott was hailed as the heroic commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and there’s a statue in his honor in Boston today.  Citizen/physician Dr. Samuel Prescott  finished Paul Revere’s historic midnight ride to Concord, because Paul Revere got captured by the British.

William Hickling Prescott, grandson of Col. William Prescott, was a renowned New England author who famously wrote about Cortez’s conquest of Montezuma in Mexico. He was so admired by Arizona Territory early founders,  John Goodwin and Richard McCormick that they named several places in the new Arizona territory, and its capitol, in honor of W. H. Prescott.   So Prescott (s) did indeed have a role in the war for independence.