Photo: The Yavapai County Courthouse beaming with the fireworks going off over Whiskey Row
A huge crowd gathered around the courthouse square for the 71st annual Christmas Courthouse Lighting ceremony in downtown Prescott.
People not only filled the square, they filled the surrounding streets as well and the weather conditions could not have been better.
Photo: Ponderosa Grove
The evening started off with the Prescott High School Chamber Singers, followed by the band Ponderosa Grove. At 6pm, Sanford Cohen, sporting a D-Backs jersey along with his Santa hat, took the stage to welcome everyone and share a little bit of the how and the why, along the sponsors of the event.
Photo: Mayor Cathey Rusing with Sanford Cohen
The speakers followed, all providing some definition, history, and sharing of the Christmas spirit that Prescott is all about. Yavapai County Chairman Mary Mallory, new elected mayor Cathey Rusing, Frank Sanderson, the Director of the Northern Arizona Division of APS, Paul Penzone, Vice President and Chief Community Relations Officer with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Alex Logan of Findlay Toyota of Prescott.
Photo: Ken Bennett
Former Secretary of State, Senator Ken Bennett then came up and invited children of all ages to come up to the courthouse steps to sing. Once everyone who wanted to be a part of the choir was up there, Bennett began reading the Christmas Story for his 35th time. The large crowd grew silent as they listened to every word read aloud. It went perfectly and the at the very the courthouse and surrounding grounds lit up as the exciting gasps of those seeing the lights for the first time grew louder.
Photo: Many of the participants in the children’s choir
The fireworks, sponsored by former Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chair Craig Brown, immediately followed being shot off behind Whiskey Row.
Robert and Becca Martinez made the trip up the Phoenix to spend the day here. Robert said, “This is our third time coming up here to enjoy this great event. We had heard about it and finally three years ago we decided to come up. Today we came up sooner to catch the parade. That was a lot of fun too.” Becca added, “We have made this one of our new traditions. Now I feel like we are ready for Christmas.”
The festivities continue in downtown Prescott on Friday, December 12, from 5pm-8:30pm with Acker Night. Come out and enjoy this extraordinary event that is also a fundraiser for local aspiring student musicians and music programs.
1 thought on “71st Annual Courthouse Lighting Takes Place in Arizona’s Christmas City – Ron Williams”
Incredible displa of lights and pagentry.
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