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Home Special Sections Holiday

CITY OR TOWN, PRESCOTT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

November 30, 2018
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by Ken Leja, Sharlot Hall Museum

Holiday celebrations in Prescott date back to the first days of the town in 1863, but the community’s designation as Arizona’s Christmas City or Christmas Town began about 100 years later. 

In 1962 Arizona Gov. Paul Fannin officially declared Prescott as the state’s official Christmas Town.  About a quarter-century later, Gov. Rose Mofford followed up, declaring Prescott as Arizona’s Christmas City in 1989, which solidified the community’s long-time holiday image.

The community spirit for the holidays, however, dates back to the town’s founding.  The first Christmas observance in the Prescott area was celebrated by Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy beside Granite Creek on Christmas morning in 1863. 

The second Christmas celebration, December 1864, centered at the new Governor’s Mansion (now the centerpiece of Sharlot Hall Museum), with food for all and an American flag flying over the mansion from atop a pine tree shorn of its top-most branches.

At the first county courthouse in 1867 on Cortez Street, local holiday celebrations focused on this building, the site of many public gatherings, including church services.

With each new courthouse (1878 and late-1910s), both visitors and residents flocked to the downtown plaza to celebrate the season, decorating the plaza trees with clothing, colored paper, and the occasional flask or hanging pair of shoes. 

Over the years, these festivities have grown from simple decorations and community wide faith observances, to the contemporary displays initiated in the early 1950s.  These were produced by the local chamber of commerce and augmented by numerous service clubs and individuals.  The Business and Professional Women’s Club initiated the lighting of the courthouse in 1955, and the Christmas parade was added in the 1980s.

Today, Prescott has become the go-to spot for a small-town Christmas, and solidifies the community’s longtime holiday image and designation as Arizona’s Christmas City.

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Come & enjoy the local scene in Prescott Arizona!

Prescott Living Magazine

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Prescott Living Magazine
OUT & ABOUT — Thank you to Karen Shaw for sending in these shots of Jerome and the San Francisco Peaks on a beautiful winter day! We publish reader photos in every issue of Prescott LIVING. Send in your best shots by email to photos@roxco.com. Photos should be taken by you, anywhere in the Greater Prescott area. Selected photos will appear in print and on our social media channels.#jeromeaz #prescott #northernaz #sanfranciscopeaks ... See MoreSee Less

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Arizona State Senator Ken Bennett will read a proclamation in memory of Dr. Billie Orr on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at 1:15 p.m. on the Senate floor. The session will be livestreamed at www.azleg.gov/liveproceedings. Here is the text of the proclamation. . . . Recognition In Memory of Dr. Billie OrrWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Prescott on the City Council from 2015 until 2021 and during that time as mayor Pro Tempore from 2017 until 2020; andWHEREAS, she was a member and past President of the Republican Women of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr Founded the Mayor’s Commission on Well-Being for the City of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served as City Council Liaison for several City Boards and Commissions during her tenure as Councilmember; and WHEREAS, she served as a Board Member of Arizona Town Hall, Prescott Western Heritage Foundation and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was an active Rotarian, serving on Rotary Clubs in the Phoenix area and in Prescott; and WHEREAS, she was a big fan of pickleball and helped Prescott Build outdoor courts for its citizens; andWHEREAS, prior to her service in Prescott, Dr. Billie Orr was active in Arizona education for more than twenty-five years; and WHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Arizona as Arizona’s Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction; andWHEREAS, under her leadership, Arizona created state academic standards that were ranked among the best in the nation; andWHEREAS, in earlier years she taught in the Madison District in Phoenix and was the Principal of Kiva School in Scottsdale; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was a dedicated and longtime public servant to the citizens of Arizona who brought a positive and caring aspect to her service, inspiring many who worked with her; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr will be greatly missed by her many friends in Prescott and throughout Arizona; andNOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to her husband Bob, their children and grandchildren and all family members.. . . ... See MoreSee Less

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