New York has its ball. Prescott has a boot. Every New Year’s Eve, thousands of people pack Montezuma Street in downtown Prescott to watch a 6-foot cowboy boot, lit up in neon pinks, blues and stars, drop from a flagpole high above the historic Palace building on Whiskey Row. It is free, it is open to all ages, and it is one of the most fun ways to ring in the new year anywhere in Arizona.
A Prescott tradition
The Boot Drop started in the early 2010s as Prescott’s own spin on the Times Square ball drop, and it has grown into one of the town’s signature nights. This New Year’s Eve marks the 16th annual drop. Locals come back every year, families make it their tradition, and visitors from Phoenix and beyond plan whole weekends around it. Where else can you count down to midnight under a giant glowing cowboy boot, on a street where cowboys, miners and outlaws drank more than a century ago?
Two countdowns: 10 PM and midnight
The party runs from about 7 PM on December 31 until after midnight, and the boot actually drops twice. The first drop is at 10 PM, timed with the ball drop in New York, which is perfect for families with kids who won’t make it to midnight. The second drop is the big one, at midnight, with the whole crowd counting down together, cheering, hugging and singing as the boot comes down and fireworks light up the sky over downtown.
The crowds and the excitement
Expect a big, happy crowd. Montezuma Street closes to traffic and fills shoulder to shoulder with people in cowboy hats, party hats, sparkly jackets and heavy coats. The energy builds all night, and by the final countdown the whole street is buzzing. It is crowded, but it is a friendly crowd: neighbors, families, couples and groups of friends all there for the same reason. If you want a spot with a clear view of the boot, plan to arrive early.
Live music, vendors and food trucks
There is something going on all night long. Live bands play on the street, so there is music and dancing from the start of the party right up to midnight. Food trucks and local vendors line the street with hot food, warm drinks, snacks and New Year’s gear, and there are games and activities to keep everyone busy between countdowns. Grab something warm, find your crew and soak it in.
The saloons and restaurants of Whiskey Row
Whiskey Row is the heart of the party. The Palace, built in 1877 and famous as one of Arizona’s oldest frontier saloons, sits right under the boot, and the legend goes that when fire swept Whiskey Row in 1900, patrons carried the Palace’s bar across the street to the plaza and kept on drinking. Up and down the block you will find Matt’s Saloon for country music and two-stepping, the Bird Cage and the Jersey Lilly for a classic saloon night, and plenty of restaurants and pubs around the Courthouse Plaza for dinner before the countdown. Many places are packed on New Year’s Eve, so make dinner reservations early or plan on an early meal.
Make a day of it
Don’t just show up at 11:30. Spend the afternoon downtown browsing the shops and galleries around the Courthouse Plaza, where the holiday lights are usually still up through New Year’s. Grab an early dinner, then head out to Montezuma Street as the music starts and the crowd begins to build. If you are in town for the long weekend, start New Year’s Day slow with a hike at Watson Lake or Thumb Butte and brunch downtown.
Watch the boot drop
Here is what the countdown looks like from the street. Turn the sound up.
Tips for the night
- Dress warm. Prescott sits at 5,400 feet, and late December nights often drop below freezing. Hats, gloves and layers are a must.
- Arrive early for a good view of the Palace, especially for the midnight drop.
- Downtown parking fills fast. Park a few blocks away and walk, or take a rideshare.
- Bring the kids to the 10 PM drop. It is a full countdown and a great show, with an earlier bedtime.
- Do not drink and drive. A rideshare from Positively Prescott is a quick, inexpensive trip.
Stay 5 minutes from all the action
Make it a New Year’s weekend and stay at Positively Prescott, a 4-bedroom home just 5 minutes from Whiskey Row. When the party is over, you are a short ride from a warm house with a real wood-burning fireplace, a 7-seat hot tub under the pines and plenty of room for the whole group, with no long drive back to the Valley at 1 AM. New Year’s Eve weekend books up early, so check your dates soon. Book direct with no booking fees, and see what else is happening on our Prescott events calendar. Happy New Year from Prescott!
