Prescott, Arizona events calendar

Annual events in Prescott Arizona

Prescott AZ events run on a tight calendar of traditions that locals and visitors plan around. Prescott Frontier Days, the World’s Oldest Rodeo, has run since 1888 and is the headline summer event, with performances stretching across late June and the 4th of July at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. 4th of July in Prescott overlaps with Frontier Days, with the parade on Cortez and Gurley Streets, the rodeo at the grounds, fireworks at Pioneer Park, and live music on Whiskey Row. The Prescott Bluegrass Festival on the Courthouse Plaza, the Whiskey Row Marathon (run since 1978), the Highland Games at Watson Lake, and the Whiskey Off-Road mountain bike race fill the rest of the warm-season Prescott events calendar.

Christmas City USA (2026 Schedule)

Prescott was named Arizona’s Official Christmas City in 1989, and the city earns the title every holiday season. The Prescott Christmas events guidetracks all confirmed 2026 dates: the Prescott Holiday Light Parade on Saturday, November 28, 2026 (6:00 p.m., followed by the Bonfire Festival at Mile High Middle School), the 44th Annual Prescott Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, 2026 (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), Sharlot Hall Museum’s Frontier Christmas (December 5, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.), the 72nd Annual Courthouse Lighting on Saturday, December 5, 2026 (5:00 p.m. music, 6:00 p.m. lighting and fireworks), the 38th Annual Acker Night Musical Showcase on Friday, December 11, 2026 (5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.), the City of Prescott’s free Frost Fest on Saturday, December 19, 2026 (3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Ken Lindley Field), and the Whiskey Row New Year’s Eve Boot Drop on December 31, 2026.

Courthouse Plaza Arts & Crafts Shows, Halloween, and Veterans Day

Halloween in Prescott AZ centers on Whiskey Row costume crawls, the Hassayampa Inn Hauntings, and family Halloween at the Heritage Park Zoo “Boo at the Zoo.” The Veterans Day Parade runs downtown on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. From spring through fall, the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza hosts major juried art and craft festivals including the Mountain Artists Guild Mother’s Day Show (May), Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale and the Chamber Off Street Festival (Memorial Day weekend), Territorial Days Arts & Crafts Show (first weekend of June), Rodeo Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show (July 4th weekend), Faire on the Square (Labor Day weekend), and the Fall Arts & Crafts Show (first weekend of October). Our Courthouse Plaza events guide has the complete 2026/2027 plaza schedule, parking tips, and vendor application contacts.

Year-round: Prescott Farmers Market and weekend live music

The Prescott Farmers Market at 900 Iron Springs Road runs Saturday mornings year-round (7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. April through October, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. November through March). Live music in Prescott AZspills onto Whiskey Row most Friday and Saturday nights: the Palace, Matt’s Saloon, Whiskey & Ivory, the Bird Cage, and the Hassayampa lounge all rotate live acts. The Elks Theatre Prescott books touring concerts and film festivals through the year, and the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley runs larger arena shows.

Prescott events this weekend

For Prescott events this weekend, our things to do this weekend guide tracks the rolling calendar against the City of Prescott Special Events page. The seasonal anchors above tell you which weekends to plan around or book hotels early: Frontier Days week (late June through July 5), Christmas Parade and Courthouse Lighting weekend (December 5, 2026), Whiskey Off-Road weekend (late April), and Highland Games weekend at Watson Lake (late September).