4 weird items Arizona cities drop on New Year’s Eve

Forget the boring crystal ball. Arizona cities celebrate New Year’s Eve by dropping all sorts of items.

Many of us enjoy watching the Times Square crystal-covered ball drop every New Year’s Eve while counting down the last seconds of the year.

But did you know you can go to celebrations like this in person in Arizona? The only thing is, it’s not your traditional ball drop—cities across the state lower all sorts of items to ring in the new year. 

Here are some of the quirky festivities going on this year and how to attend them. 

Flagstaff Pinecone Drop

One E. Route 66

Noon, 10 p.m., and midnight

Flagstaff is a great place to spend time in the winter, as you could actually experience a white Christmas there—but it’s also a fun place to spend New Year’s Eve. 

Every year the city drops a 70-pound, 6-foot, metallic pinecone on Dec. 31, followed by fireworks. The tradition has taken place at the Weatherford Hotel since 1999, the year the hotel celebrated its 100-year anniversary and the world celebrated a new millennium. According to the city, thousands of people come out every year to watch the celebration in the streets. 

The pinecone drops not only at midnight, but also earlier in the day at noon and 10 p.m. for those who want to celebrate but don’t want to stay up too late. 

Want a premier viewing spot for the drop? People 21 and over can book a stay at the Weatherford, which includes two VIP tickets to an event in the hotel’s ballroom with food, a bar, and a champagne toast.  

Prescott Boot Drop

120 S. Montezuma St.

10 p.m. and midnight

Prescott is another place in northern Arizona that goes big not only for Christmas, but for New Year’s, too. At 10 p.m. and midnight, a 6-foot illuminated cowboy boot is lowered from 40 feet up a flagpole at The Palace Restaurant & Saloon. 

Admission to the 14th annual event at downtown’s Whiskey Row is free, and festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. There will be fireworks, live music, carnival games, rides, food trucks, and giveaways. 

Show Low Deuce of Clubs Drop

181 N. Ninth St.

Midnight

In Show Low, residents and travelers gather in front of the library to drop a giant, lit-up deuce of clubs playing card. 

The card, which also pictures the Arizona state flag, is a nod to the city’s origin story. Two early settlers used the outcome of a poker game to determine who got a 100,000-acre ranch, and who had to skip town. When one player said the other had to “show low” to win, the other flashed a deuce of clubs and said “Show low it is.” The city’s main street is named Deuce of Clubs after the story. 

The free event begins at 10 p.m. and includes music, fire pits, and fireworks.  

Tucson Taco Drop

41 E. Congress

Midnight

On New Year’s Eve, Tucson drops one of Arizona’s most popular food items: a taco. 

The free event downtown—sponsored in part by none other than Taco Bell—starts at 6 p.m. and includes a performance from the Lucky Devils Band, fireworks, a silent disco, food trucks, and beer stations. 

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