Arizona Centennial’s “Best Fest” Kicks off in Prescott!
Published by Alyssa Lichner on Sunday, May 01, 2011 Comment(s): 0
During the last few months, the City of Prescott, the Yavapai County Centennial Committee, Entertainment Solutions, Prescott Western Heritage Days, along with other interested organizations and individuals began meeting to plan what will be the largest event in Prescott history. Since Prescott was the first territorial capital, the Arizona Centennial Celebration, “Best Fest”, will kick off in our great city September 16-18, 2011. To find out more about the state wide centennial events and other projects, visit arizona100.org.
Due to the size of the event, many volunteers and sponsors from the community and region will be needed to insure success. Because much of the downtown will be closed to traffic and parking, large off-site parking areas will be needed to handle the volume of vehicles, and shuttles will be used to transport visitors and residents from the parking lots to the Courthouse Plaza and other venues around the downtown area.
For over a year, a presentation has been made to many businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals about a “Partnering for Success” plan with ideas regarding how the community can work together to bring about a spirit of cooperation and accomplishment. The purpose of these efforts
is to help preserve and promote our western heritage, and enhance the western lifestyle that makes Prescott a unique place to live and visit. An extensive list of suggestions included events like PRESCOTT WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS, and recommendations for the Arizona Centennial celebration beginning in September 2011. PRESCOTT WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS became a reality this past September, and within a few months, was designated as an “Official Centennial Event” by the Arizona Centennial Commission. Scheduled for September 16-18, 2011, this new event be a part of the “Western Town” during the centennial kick-off celebration. A Centennial Downtown Lighting Project is also in the planning stages, with many businesses in the area signing up as sponsors. The plan is to turn on the commercial grade, professionally installed low voltage LED lighting during the centennial kick-off celebration.
Western culture and heritage has deep roots in Prescott, as Arizona’s first territorial capital and home to the famous (and infamous) Whiskey Row. Amateur and professional photographers, artists, videographers, media and tourists will have a one of a kind opportunity to photograph Arizona’s largest gathering of historical re-enactment groups in and around Whiskey Row, and the historic Courthouse Plaza. The Arizona Centennial kick-off celebration will also be a great opportunity for the area to educate our visitors regarding our ranching, mining, and forestry heritage, as well as the great Prescott Fire.
Another part of the presentation suggests that local non-profit organizations, businesses, the city, and interested individuals should collaborate to educate visitors and residents of Prescott and the surrounding area (including our youth), about our history and western heritage. In addition, the presentation provides ideas for community and regional awareness – the marketing of our heritage, our accolades, and our unique historical attractions. Another concept is proposed to wrap all of the western events from May through September into a “Way Out West – Prescott Fest” for promotional packaging purposes to attract more tourists, including the international travelers that love the American west.
PRESCOTT WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS event was made possible due to a partnership between the Prescott Western Heritage Foundation and the Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies, Inc. Other partners included Sharlot Hall Museum, the Prescott Victorian Society, with additional support from the 10th Calvary/Buffalo Soldiers, the Prescott Buscaderos, the Prescott Roughriders, and the Bill Williams Mountain Men. Thirty businesses and individuals also stepped up as event sponsors and are supporting a vision to promote the city’s heritage and our spirit of the west.
Dennis Gallagher is a local western artist, Founder/Chairman of the Prescott Western Heritage Days Committee, President of the recently created Prescott Western Heritage Foundation, a Trustee of the Phippen Museum, and serves on Prescott’s Centennial Programming Committee for the Arizona Centennial Commission and Entertainment Solutions. If you would like to contact Dennis regarding sponsorship of this event and/or the downtown lighting project, or to become a volunteer, he can be reached by calling 602.820.7472, or by e-mail at dennisgallagher@mac.com.
Historical re-enactors or re-enactment groups that would like to participate in this event should contact Neil Thomas at 928.499.0699 or by e-mail at nsupport@earthlink.net. Neil is President of the Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies, Inc. and serves as the Director of the Arizona Western Actors, Re-enactors and Entertainers.
To find out more about Prescott Western Heritage Days and the Centennial Downtown Lighting Project, you can go to www.prescottwesternheritageday.org.
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