Arizona towns get ready for New Year's Eve
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PHOENIX -- As usual, the ball will drop in New York's Time Square on New Year's Eve.
Not to be left out, there will be drops in Arizona as well.
Back in 2000, the owners of Flagstaff's Weatherford Hotel decided to mark the hotel's 100th anniversary by starting a New Year's Eve tradition.
"Thinking of New York City and the Times Square ball, since we live in a Ponderosa Pine forest we came up with the Pine Cone drop," said hotel co-owner Sam Green. "It's become a tradition ever since."
The giant lighted pine cone will drop from atop the hotel again Monday night.
"We have two drops, at 10 o'clock and midnight," Green said. "The 10 o'clock is to commemorate the East Coast celebration, and it's also great for the kids because they can come out early. Fireworks go off in the downtown area after the midnight Pine Cone drop. It's a pretty big party."
Green said the city estimated 10,000 people showed up last New Year's Eve.
There are other drops in Arizona.
In Prescott, a boot drops from the Crystal Saloon on Whiskey Row at 10 p.m. and midnight, with the midnight drop followed by fireworks.
In Show Low, a 6-foot-tall electronic deuce of clubs card drops right in the middle of Deuce of Clubs road. Spectators also have a chance to win a $2 bill by drawing the deuce of clubs in a card game.
Bob McClay, Reporter
