by Scott Currey, President, Acker Committee
Acker Night will be celebrating its 30th year of what has become Prescott’s finest night.
Who would have ever dreamed this event would grow from eight businesses and eight performing groups to over 130 participating business and 150 performing groups? That adds up to over 500 performers who volunteer their time and talent for three hours each year.
Acker Night 2018 will be on Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be a special opening ceremony at 5 p.m., which will include the community singing the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
With the closing of Gurley Street between Montezuma and Cortez and Montezuma between Gurley and Goodwin, people will be able to wander downtown and see and hear the sounds of every imaginable music style.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on Gurley Street for families to take memorable photos. Dancers will be in the street along with strolling a cappella groups. Inside the participating stores will be musical groups performing their favorite style of music. Programs will be available at the Chamber of Commerce and at Santa’s tent the night of the event.
Tips bags will be in every participating business. Additional tips bags will be at different locations held by high school marching band members.
Acker Night is a 501 (c)(3) and the monies collected in the tips bags during this celebration go to private-lesson scholarships for school children. Funds are also raised from each participating business and other sponsors that augment local school district music program budgets. In 2018, Acker provided $15,000 to schools and 62 scholarships for private lessons. Our name pays homage to J.S. Acker, who left a trust “for music for children.”
Acker night was started to bring music to downtown during the holiday season and to introduce the public to all the wonderful businesses. Speaking of wonderful businesses, Fancy That! at 124 S. Granite St., donated $10,000 to Acker Night after selling 1,000 beautiful scarves that have become known as the Acker Scarf. Each year the scarf is different. Don’t forget to go by Fancy That! that evening and purchase yours.
Come to downtown Prescott for an unforgettable evening of music and fun. We believe you won’t find such an event anywhere else in the nation. Bring your $1 bills and fill the tips bags so we can further the universal language of music for the young people who live in our area.
Donations can also be made to Acker Night, P.O. Box 12677, Prescott, AZ 86304.
