The Whiskey Row Boot Drop is back and bigger than ever, celebrating its 15th year as Northern Arizona’s most iconic New Year’s Eve event. On Wednesday, Dec. 31, thousands will gather in historic downtown Prescott to welcome the New Year with the drop of a dazzling 6-foot illuminated cowboy boot from the Palace Building’s 40-foot flagpole. This year’s milestone event builds on the excitement of last year’s worldwide recognition, when CNN aired the Boot Drop live to a global audience. “It was … [Read more...] about Thousands Expected to Celebrate the New Year’s Eve Whiskey Row Boot Drop
Tourism
North Rim Recovery Opens Options for New Lodge
A section of the fire-ravaged North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened last month as park officials move to recover from the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire. Public access will continue for daylight hours through Nov. 30 or earlier if a major snowfall hits. The National Park Service opened the roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal on Oct. 1. “Reopening portions of the North Rim allows visitors to once again experience some of the park’s most scenic areas while we continue to assess … [Read more...] about North Rim Recovery Opens Options for New Lodge
Verde Valley Harvest Takes a Village
What is being celebrated as a hearty grape harvest in the Verde Valley, the 2025 yield is considered to be another promising vintage, putting smiles on winegrowers’ faces and assurance of some nice flavors for wine lovers’ palates. Claiming that this year’s harvest was fast and furious, Verde Valley Wine Consortium President Paula Woolsey said, “It was hot and not a lot of rain or the traditional monsoons, so brix [sugar] levels were high, producing a good vintage. All in all, it was a good … [Read more...] about Verde Valley Harvest Takes a Village
Arizona Wine Country Artists Village Returns to Old Town Cottonwood
The Arizona Wine Country Artists Village is presenting its next art and fine-craft fair, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday Oct. 10 and 11 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12, at Old Town Activity Park in Cottonwood. Organized and promoted by Jerome-based artists John and Lauri Maeder and hosted by the City of Cottonwood, the fair will showcase state and regional artists, fine-crafters and their works. The free, family-friendly and pet-friendly event celebrates the local arts community and … [Read more...] about Arizona Wine Country Artists Village Returns to Old Town Cottonwood
Changing Fall Colors, ‘Leaf-ometer’ Bring Autumn Visitors
It’s October, and with the first cool breezes of fall, shorter days and approach of winter comes that special time of year when fall colors pop among the aspen, walnut and other trees around Flagstaff. This month is increasingly important for our tourism economy thanks in large part to the changing fall colors and bump in tourism that these changes bring. Autumn is special to Arizonans, and Flagstaff is the ideal place to experience the season, attracting plenty of visitors from the deserts. … [Read more...] about Changing Fall Colors, ‘Leaf-ometer’ Bring Autumn Visitors
Sweet! Grand Canyon Chocolate Adds Flagstaff Shop
Grand Canyon Chocolate has opened a candy shop in downtown Flagstaff after five years of serving sweets to some of Grand Canyon’s 4.5 million annual visitors. An enterprise of the Stickler family, Grand Canyon Chocolate Factory opened in fall 2020 in Tusayan, the gateway town to the South Rim. Grand Canyon Chocolate opened in Flagstaff Aug. 1 for Flagstaff’s First Friday Artwalk. The new store, headed by Tyler Stickler, is at 109 N. Leroux St., next to the now-closed Planet Science … [Read more...] about Sweet! Grand Canyon Chocolate Adds Flagstaff Shop
Celebration of the Night Brings Flagstaff Together Under the Stars
Flagstaff’s famous night skies are taking center stage this fall as the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition (FDSC) hosts its annual Celebration of the Night, Sept. 5 through Oct. 18, including the Flagstaff Star Party, Sept. 25-27, at Buffalo Park. This year’s festivities also mark the beginning of a year-long countdown to a milestone event: the 25th anniversary of Flagstaff’s designation as the world’s first International Dark Sky City, coming in fall 2026. “As we pursue our vision of a world where … [Read more...] about Celebration of the Night Brings Flagstaff Together Under the Stars
North Rim in Flames: Region Reels from Loss and Heartbreak
With tired legs and cherished memories, Maraka Oltrogge, vice president of philanthropy at Northern Arizona Healthcare, spent the last night of her hiking trip with her dad and friends, basking in the beauty of the mixed conifer forest and camping just outside the National Park boundary on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. At 11:15 p.m., Thursday, July 10, she was awakened by a bright light and an urgent message. “A Game and Fish officer introduced himself and kindly explained that we needed … [Read more...] about North Rim in Flames: Region Reels from Loss and Heartbreak
The Creative Casita Brings a Pop of Personality to East Flagstaff
Behind white pillars at Fourth Street and Seventh Avenue in Flagstaff is The Creative Casita, a new boutique-style market filled with unique gifts, vintage finds and homemade goods. Owner Adriane Murphy, a longtime Flagstaff resident with 15 years of experience in craft fairs and outdoor markets, has created a shop that brings together local vendors offering handmade jewelry, home décor, fresh tortillas, scratch pastas, soap, candles and more. “The store is bright and cheery and so … [Read more...] about The Creative Casita Brings a Pop of Personality to East Flagstaff
Route 66 Goes On the Air
There will be a major pileup in the Flagstaff area in September. Fortunately, it won’t be on the highways, but rather on the airwaves. A unique international amateur radio event, “Route 66 On The Air,” sponsored by the local Northern Arizona DX Association (NADXA), will be coming to town Sept. 6-14, and will welcome more than 10,000 amateur radio operators to connect across continents to celebrate Route 66. Marking its 26th anniversary, this special … [Read more...] about Route 66 Goes On the Air
